The system of charitable endowments in modern Turkey

Abstract

This study aims to explore the channels of continuity in the culture of charitable endowment between modern Turkish society and its Ottoman ancestors. Through in-depth research, it becomes evident that contemporary Turkish society continues to embody the values of giving, generosity, and charitable spending that prevailed during the Ottoman period, transforming them from individual practices into a social phenomenon, and from isolated acts into a continuous cultural tradition. Undoubtedly, material heritage is accompanied by moral, intellectual, and cultural heritage. Just as the Ottoman ancestors bequeathed to their Turkish descendants urban complexes and other endowment-based buildings, they also transmitted a sense of pride, dignity, and honor, along with an awareness of humanity’s role as God’s steward on earth and the responsibility to protect religion and cultivate the land through the ongoing practice of spending, giving, generosity, and assisting others among the needy, the poor, and the disadvantaged. Evidence of this continuity is found in the examples presented in this study of modern endowment institutions that engage in charitable activities and humanitarian assistance. These activities and forms of aid represent an extension of history, a continuation of culture, a connection to heritage, and a deep association with religion.