The Socio-Economic Role of Religious Officials in Nablus in the 13th Century AH / 19th Century AD. The Registers of the Islamic Law Court as a Source

Abstract

This article examines some aspects of social life in the town of Nablus during the 13th century AH / 19th century AD, and in particular the religious officials. There were four types of clerical offices: muftis; law court employees with the Islamic Law Court judge at the head and other court officials, especially clerks; administrators of the Islamic waqf endowments; and mosque employees. The study is mostly based on the registers of the Islamic law court of Nablus – rich archival material that includes valuable information not available in other historical sources.