In this study, it is discussed how the post of Shaykh al-Islam in the Ottoman State played the role in limiting the power. In the study, besides the monographic works written on the subject, kanunnames and fatwa books, which are from the sources of Turkish legal history, were used. Our hypothesis on this issue is that the Shaykh alIslam, who is considered the head of Ilmiyye, which is a privileged class, had a very important theoretical function in terms of limiting the power. Shaykh al-Islams are the ultimate authorities for interpreting the religion of Islam and Islamic law within the Ottoman state organization. They use this authority through fatwas. Shaykh al-Islams can declare something illegal or legal by issuing a fatwa. Given that the Padishahs were also considered to be bound by Islamic law, it is clear that this authority of the Shaykh al-Islams constituted the theoretical basis for the overseeing of the Padishah. Therefore, it can be said that, through the existence of the institution of sheikh al-Islam in the Ottoman Empire, limitation of power by law was theoretically adopted and even this limitation was institutionalized to a certain extent which can be considered ahead of other states in that era. In this respect, it is important that powerful sheikh al-Islams were able to give fatwas from time to time contrary to the ideas and actions of the padishahs. However, we can’t say that sheikh al-Islam was fully fulfilled the requirements of these overseeing duties in practice. The reason for this incapacity can be shown as the positioning of the institution of shaykh al-Islam within the state organization. In this context, the easily and disdainfully assignment and dismissal of Sheikh ElIslam by the Padishah -and sometimes without any justification-; caused this post’s disability to play -in practicean effective role in the overseeing the Padishah.