Political Thought in the Mamluk Period: The Unnecessary Caliphate

El-Merheb, Mohamad

Abstract

The legal theorists, jurists, judges and administrators of the late Ayyubid and early Mamluk period tackled a central question in their political thought: how best to govern their communities. This book proposes a taxonomy of the main themes and concerns of this political thought under the three ideals of the rule of law, limited government and legitimate delegation of power. Further, it recommends a contextualist approach for interpreting Islamic political texts based on their narrow social, intellectual and political contexts. The book studies both Ibn Jamaʿa’s (639/1241–733/1333) well-known works and previously unstudied treatises and, additionally, presents a fresh interpretation of a distinctive Sufi political thought and uncovers its interrelatedness with Ashʿari-Sufism and Shafiʿism.

Citation

El-Merheb, M. (2022). Political Thought in the Mamluk Period: The Unnecessary Caliphate. Edinburgh University Press. https://doi.org/10.3366/edinburgh/9781474479646.001.0001

• Book Type: Authored Book
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jan 13, 2025
• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Series Title: Edinburgh Studies in Classical Islamic History and Culture
• ISBN: 9781474479646
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3366/edinburgh/9781474479646.001.0001
• Keywords: Islamic political thought, Ayyubid, Mamluk, Sufi, Ulama, Mamlu, Historiography, Caliphate, Ibn Jamaʿa, Subki, Advice Literature, Mirrors for Princes
• Related Public URLs: https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-political-thought-in-the-mamluk-period.html