Artan, Tülay. "Forms and Forums of Expression: Istanbul and beyond, 1600–1800." The Ottoman World. Routledge, 2011. 378-406.

Late eighteenth-century Ottoman history traditionally views Sultan Selim III (1789–1807) as a modernizer who aimed to Europeanize military, administrative, and economic affairs. However, recent research reveals that Selim III was influenced by Islamic reformers, particularly followers of the Nakşibendiyye–Müceddidiyye sufi order, who advocated for strict adherence to sharia and Sunni Islam principles. Additionally, he was guided by controversial Mevlevi or Melâmi allies. Throughout the eighteenth century, both central and provincial Ottoman regions experienced a significant agenda of renewal and reform in Islamic thought, including efforts to align with modern state formation.