This practice was very controversial from the very beginning and was a cause for a lot of criticism. According to the Quran, slavery was outlawed as "one man may not own another" (Quran 90:4-13). The practice was changed frequently throughout its practice, so that the boys were allowed more freedoms to pursue and enjoy their lives. Many were compensated for their military service and given special status and benefits in society. Much like the military benefits of today, retired Janissaries were given land and a monthly paychecks. This is one of the many examples how the policies of the Ottoman Empire were changed by the laws of the Quran. The empire grew to tremendous height under the military might of the janissaries. Their strength helped shape the one of the longest lasting empires in history. The empire's bond, however, was not nationality. .
To many people, the Ottoman Empire was considered a Turkish state. This, however, is false as the Ottoman Empire grew to encompass more than a dozen of different nationalities. Under normal circumstances, this would create much tension and turmoil within the borders of the empire. This is where Islam came in. According to Muslim Sharia, the laws of the Quran that govern the lives of a person and government, the ethnicity is not the correct way to characterize a person. Instead, Islam brought together all of its Muslim followers and labeled them as Muslim. No longer was a Turk more acceptable than a European, or an Arab better than a non-Arab. The Ottoman Empire used these guidelines when creating their government. The result was a people unified not by nationality, but instead by God. One example of the way the Ottoman Empire used this method was the figurehead of the state, The Sultan. When Fatih Sultan Mehmet, or Mehmed II, first came into power, he was recognized as the Protector of all Muslim. This title was given to the caliph of the prophet Mohammed and was recognized by all Sunni followers.
