Assignment topic : Concept of state and government by ibn e khaldun

Introduction :

Ibn e khaldun  ‫خلدون الحضرم‬,‫ أبو زيد عبد الرحمن بن محمد بن‬Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn Khaldun was
an Arab historian, philosopher and statesman whose treatise The Muqaddima , in which he pioneered a
general sociological theory of history, shows him as one of the most original thinkers of the Middle Ages.
Ibn Khaldun was born on May 27, 1332, in Tunis. Growing up in Tunis, Ibn Khaldun studied the traditional
religious sciences including law according to the Maliki school as well as the rational sciences. He also was
trained in the arts necessary for a career in government. Among his teachers, he was most impressed by
al-Abili, who came to Tunis in 1347 and introduced him to philosophy.

Ibn Khaldun's fame rests on his Muqaddima in which he set forth the earliest general theory of the
nature of civilization and the conditions for its development, intending it as a tool for understanding and
writing history. He considered the permanent conflict between primitive Bedouin and highly developed
urban society as a crucial factor in history. Civilization is for him an urban phenomenon to be realized only
by local concentration and cooperation of men united under a strong dynastic rule. He saw group
solidarity asabiyya as the driving force for this cooperation and the establishment of dynastic rule. The
group with the strongest feeling of solidarity establishes its predominance and the rule of its leading
family.

Concept of state:
Ibn Khaldun, the great North African thinker and philosopher believed that the state has its foundation on one of the
two great moral principles; the sense of Oneness or Group Mind, Asabiya and religion. The State as such is the
natural result of human life which requires association and organization; “human association is necessary,” the
philosopher expresses this saying, “man is a citizen by nature.

According to ibn e khaldun, religion plays a vital role in the affiliation of scaterred groups of society and conception
of a group mind deeply develops for mutual existence and help. It is natural that a religious mission cannot achieve
sucess without the existence of a group mind among the missionareies. If the desired end is achieved and mission is
successful, it doubtlessly strenghtens the state but it is by no means necessary for existence of a state to have a prop
of religion, although religion itself may prove to be a great incentive towards the creation of asabiya.

The ibn e khaldun concept of state revolves arround two main points.

1. Asabiya
2. Stages of development

1.Asabiya :
It is derived from arabic root word asab mening to bind or to unite. It is a group feeling on the basis of race
colour,custom,tradition and common interest.
Nature :
Ibn e khaldun says , every person has a natural trrend to love his blood relative family memebers tribesmen and
fellow members respectively. It is asabiya that compels people to protect one another’s interests, rights and liberties.

Necessary:
 The increasing strength of asabiya enables a person or a family to dominate others and rule others.
 Asabiya created the concept of rulers and the ruled and finally the state.
 Ibn e khaldun analyzes the history and finds that those families and tribes become rulers who were strong
in asabiya and those were ruled and even crushed whose asabiya is weak.
 The political interrelations are therefore the outcome of asabiya.
 Ibn e khadun states that human biengs naturally like collective life and they are in need of the rulers and
political institutions.

The ruler of the ruling family aslo in need of strong asabiya for the survival of his dominance .

According to ibn e khaldun the fall of various glorious rulers was due to their weak asabiya, therefore weakness in
asabiya results in fall.

Ibn e khaldun says that state if formed either on the basis of religion or asabiya.

2.Stages of development:
Ibn e khaldun says that the present state came into bieng when old people established or conquered cities
and adopted solidarity. After establishment, the state passes through the three natural steps that are
growth ,maturity and decline. Each stepwould complete in 40 years.

The three steps would complete in five major steps.

First stage:

 In the first stage development the state passes through establishing steps.
 The rulers and ruled are hardworkers and they tried their best for the stability and development of the
state.
 The rulers and ruled jointly establish new institutions necessary for a civilized culture and stable
poliltical system.

Second stage:

 The ruler establishes absolute kingship.

 Bureaucracy is organised to enforce the rules.
 Democracy or political system is changed into absolute monarchy.
 Law making and execution are in control of rulers.
 The ruler used the national treasury according to his own will.

Third stage:

 In this stage the ruler or soveriegn tries his best to maintain and preserve his powers.
 The ruler focuses on political authority to fulfill his personal needs.
 He starts to live a luxurious life.
  National interests are ignored and a lot of personal interests are made.

Fourth stage:

 The previous three stages of work were constructive in nature.

 In this stage the ruler as well as people feel that they have reached the apex of thier development
therefore they become careless, and ignore the struggle and labour of thier forefathers.
 The attention is diverts frpom the state and they focus thier attention on luxury.
 Government of such a state becomes a puppet in the hands of urban democracy.

Fifth stage:

 Because of thier luxurious activities they become morally degraded that destroys the whole
society.
 The administration and state defence becomes weak .
 Relationship of the ruler and people becomes weak.
 All development activities stop.
 In such a depressed state either neighbouring state attacks or an internal revolution starts that
destroys the state.
 On the basis of the decline new states are formed and the first stage appears again.

Concept of government:
Ibn Khaldun thinks at three forms of government :

First, the Government based reasoning (siyasah 'aqliyah), the government

brought in accordance with the ratio of its people in achieving the

benefit of the world and prevent bad impact. Government based on

the Law made by scholars and clever people. This form of

Government is praised on one side but is reproached on the one

hand. This kind of government today is similar to the Republican

government, or institutional realm that can manifest injustice to a

certain extent.

Second, natural Governance (siyasah thabi'iyah),

the government brought the community in accordance with the

purpose of lust. That is, a king in ruling the kingdom (mulk) more

follow the will and lust alone and do not pay attention to the

interests of the people who consequently the people difficult to

obey the consequences of the onset of terror, oppression, and

anarchy. This kind of government today resemble authoritarian,

individualistic, bibs Krasi, or unconstitutional.

Third, the Government which is based on religion (Siyasah Diniyyah), the

government brought all its citizens in accordance with the

guidance of religion, both worldly and socially.

According to Ibn Khaldun this model of government is the best, because with the

law that comes from the teachings of Religion will be guaranteed

not only security and prosperity in the world but also in the

afterlife. And because that is used as the principle of government

policy is the teachings of Religion, especially Islam, then the head

of the State called the Caliph and Imam. Khalifah, since he is the

successor of the Prophet, in preserving the sustainability of the

Religion and the earthly welfare of his people. Imam as a leader. The three forms of

government Ibn Khaldun acknowledge it is better to use the

teachings and religious laws as the basis of State policies andregulations.

Khilafa:
Khilafah according to Ibn Khaldun is a government based on the Religion that ordered his people in accordance
with the guidance of Religion either in terms of mundane or afterlife. So the government is base on religion called
the Khilafa, Imamah or Sulthaniah. The leader is called Khalifah, Imam or Sulthan. Khilafah is the successor of the
Prophet Muhammad with the task of defending religion and exercising world leadership. The institution of Imamah
is obligatory according to religious law, as evidenced by Abu Bakr's assumption as khalifah. However, thereare also
those who argue that Imamah must be due to human reason / necessity to social organization. However, the
necessityof law fard kifayah . Ibn Khaldun himself set 5conditions for the caliph, Imam, or Sulthan,:

1. Have knowledge.

2. Have the nature of 'fair.

3. Have the ability.

4. Healthy Fivesenses and body.

5. Descendants of Quraish

Conclusion: