Yahya - Justice and Tolerance in the Qur'an (2003)

PEACE IN SOCIETIES WHERE TRUE JUSTICE PREVAILS
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well-established empires and keep them intact for so long.
However, we see that the elevated values and traits Islam
endowed these administrators with helped them attain a
high level of culture and civilisation.
Just Administration During the
First Periods of the Ottoman Empire
Right from the initial years of its development, the
founders of the Ottoman Empire adopted the principle of
administering justice. They administered the various
communities and disbelievers under their rule with great
fairness and never resorted to coercion to make them convert
to Islam. The establishment of peace was always their main
priority.
Osman Ghazi, the founder of the Ottoman Empire,
established strong friendships with the non-Muslims living
around his territory. These good relations ensured mutual
trust. For example, before Osman Ghazi took his people to
the high plateau in springtime, he entrusted his goods to the
care of non-Muslims in Bilecik, and months later returned
with gifts such as cheese, butter and carpets for them. 28 The
bazaar in Il›ca-Eskisehir, a province within the territories
held by Osman Ghazi, attracted non-Muslims from the
neighbouring regions because of its security. 29 Warm social
relations with non-Muslims permeated Osman Ghazi's time.
One event the historian Joseph von Hammer relates in his
book, Ottoman History, exalts Osman Ghazi's just
administration for all people, no matter to which religion
they belonged: