Political Thought in Medieval Islam: An Introductory Outline

337 Pages·2009·9.9 MB·English

by  Erwin I. J. Rosenthal

POLITICAL THOUGHT IN
MEDIEVAL ISLAM

POLITICAL THOUGHT IN
MEDIEVAL ISLAM
AN INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE
BY
ERWIN I. J. ROSENTHAL
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CAMBRIDGE
AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS
1962
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, Sao Paulo, Delhi
Cambridge University Press
The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 8RU, UK
Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York
www. Cambridge. org
Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521103350
© Cambridge University Press 1958
This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception
and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements,
no reproduction of any part may take place without the written
permission of Cambridge University Press.
First published 1958
Reprinted 1962
This digitally printed version 2009
A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library
ISBN 978-0-521-06131-5 hardback
ISBN 978-0-521-10335-0 paperback
To
MY WIFE

CONTENTS
AUTHOR'S NOTE page ix
ABBREVIATIONS xi
INTRODUCTION I
PART I. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND
MUSLIM HISTORY
I. THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 13
1. The Medieval Attitude 13
2. Law, Divine and Human 15
11. THE CALIPHATE: THEORY AND FUNCTION 21
1. Al-Mawardi 27
2. Al-Ghazall 38
3. Ibn Jama'a 43
4. Ibn Taymlya: the Rule of the Divine Law 51
III. GOVERNMENT 62
1. The Views of a Utilitarian Moralist 62
2. The Views of Princes, Prime Ministers and Men 67
of Letters
IV. THE THEORY OF THE POWER-STATE:
IBN KHALDUN'S STUDY OF CIVILIZATION 84
PART II. THE PLATONIC LEGACY
V. POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY IN ISLAM 113
VI. AL FARABI: THE FOUNDATION 122
VII. IBN SINA: THE SYNTHESIS 143
vii
CONTENTS
VIII. IBN BAJJA: INDIVIDUALIST DEVIATION page 158
ix. IBN RUSHD: THE CONSUMMATION 175
X. AL-DAWWANi: APPLICATION AND INTEGRATION 210
APPENDIX. SOME TURKISH VIEWS ON POLITICS 224
NOTES 234
GLOSSARY 307
INDEX 317
Vlll
AUTHOR'S NOTE
THIS book was substantially completed at the beginning of
1955, and any literature on the subject published after this date
could not be considered.
I should like to record my grateful appreciation to the Syndics
of the Cambridge University Press, for help in revising the type-
script and also to the Staff of the Press, who have so expertly piloted
the book through all its stages.
My special thanks go out to a learned friend who wishes to
remain unnamed, for compiling the index.
NOTE ON THE SECOND IMPRESSION
In reprinting the opportunity has been taken to correct misprints
and errors and to rephrase a few sentences.
IX