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The just prince : a manual of leadership / Joseph A. Kechichian and R. Hrair Dekmejian ; Including an authoritative English translation of the Sulwan al-Mutaʻ fi ʻudwan al-atba (consolation for the ruler during the hostility of subjects) by Muhạmmad ibn Zafar al-Ṣiqillī.
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Kechichian, Joseph A.
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Ibn Ẓafar, Muḥammad ibn ʻAbd Allāh, 1104-1169. Sulwan al-Mutaʻ fi ʻudwan al-atba.
- Ibn Ẓafar, Muḥammad ibn ʻAbd Allāh.
- Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1469-1527. Principe.
- Machiavelli, Niccolò.
- Education of princes.
- Political leadership.
- Political science--Philosophy.
- Political science.
- Islamic ethics.
- Physical Description:
- 349 pages ; 22 cm
- Place of Publication:
- London : Saqi, 2003.
- Summary:
- This guide to practical political philosophy combines penetrating contemporary analysis with the entertainment value of The Thousand and One Nights, and the deep insight of Sun Tzu.
- The Sulwan al-Muta' is an 800-year-old handbook for statesmen written by a Sicilian Arab who presented this advice to a 'just prince' based on Islamic morality, European realism and a broad-ranging knowledge of different cultures. Warm, wise and witty, the work is explicated using straight philosophical discourse as well as the delirious narrative whirl of fables-within-fables so beloved of ancient and mediaeval Oriental literature. The translators have preceded their presentation of Ibn Zafar's text with a highly original analysis of the qualities any leader needs in order to attain and retain command. They demonstrate that the wisdom found in the Sulwan is comparable to, but far less cynical than, Machiavelli's The Prince. The authors also show that the notion of a 'just prince' is, even today, easily within reach for those who would lead others.
- Contents:
- Maxims from the Sulwan al-Muta' 13
- Book 1 The Just Prince
- 1. The Significance of Ibn Zafar al-Siqilli's Work 31
- Power and Authority: Theoretical Perspectives 31
- Ibn Zafar: A Biographical Sketch 39
- Ibn Zafar's Literary Legacy 41
- 2. Counselling the Prince: An Historical Overview 43
- Ibn Zafar's Predecessors 43
- Ibn Zafar's Successors 54
- The Western Tradition 58
- 3. The Sulwan al-Muta': Analysis of a Magnum Opus 66
- Ibn Zafar's Historical Milieu 66
- Method of Analysis: Historicism 69
- Five Maxims 71
- Idealism versus Realism: Mosca's Paradox 76
- Theories of Revolution 80
- The Virtuous Prince 85
- The Ruler as Servant 88
- The Graceful Prince 89
- The Pragmatic Prince 90
- A Good Counsellor 93
- 4. Ibn Zafar and Machiavelli: A Comparative Analysis 97
- Crisis Environments 98
- Two Princes, Two Authors 98
- Methods of Analysis 100
- Selecting Good Advisors 102
- The Religious Prince versus the Secular Prince 106
- Worldviews and Human Nature 108
- Qualities of the Prince 109
- Rules of Governance 111
- Fate versus Will 113
- 5. Ibn Zafar: A Retrospective Assessment 115
- Universality and Modernity 115
- Apostle of a Moral Order 116
- Tolerance and Moderation 118
- Virtuous Leadership and Social Justice 119
- Book 2 Sulwan Al-Muta' Fi 'Udwan Al-Atba'
- Verses 140
- 1. Trust in God 145
- Verses From the Holy Qur'an 145
- Pharaoh and his Kinsman 146
- Tradition Concerning the Prophet Muhammad 150
- Philosophical Maxims on Trust in God 151
- Dialogue Between al-Walid ibn Yazid and a Poor Dweller 153
- Adventure of the Umayyad Caliph 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan and 'Abdallah ibn al-Zubayr 155
- The Two Foxes and the Serpent 160
- The Peacock and the Cock 165
- The Two Ministers 168
- End of the Tale of the Two Ministers 171
- End of the Tale of the Two Foxes 171
- End of 'Abd al-Malik's Adventure 173
- Conclusion of the Dialogue of al-Walid 174
- Al-Ma'mun and the Old Persian 175
- The King of the White Huns and Firuz, King of Persia 181
- Conclusion of the Adventure of al-Ma'mun 188
- 2. Fortitude 189
- Verses From the Holy Qur'an 189
- Traditions of the Prophet Concerning Fortitude 192
- Philosophical Maxims Concerning Fortitude 193
- Sapor, King of Persia, and the Roman Emperor 196
- 'Ayn Ahlih and the Old Woman 207
- The Horse and the Wild Boar 209
- The Gazelle and the Antelope 215
- Conclusion of 'Ayn Ahlih's Tale 220
- Conclusion of Sapor's Adventure 223
- 3. Patience 227
- Verses From the Holy Qur'an 227
- Attempt on the Prophet's Life 227
- Sayings of the Prophet Concerning Patience 229
- Philosophical Statements Concerning Patience 230
- The Poise of Chosroes Anushirvan 232
- An Example of 'Abbasid Caliph Musa al-Hadi's Valour 233
- Chosroes Anushirvan's Campaign in India 234
- The Rat and the Gerbil 248
- Continuation of the Enterprise of Chosroes 252
- A Citizen of Madina Speaks to 'Uthman ibn 'Affan 263
- Sayings of a Philosopher to Yezdejird II 264
- 4. Contentment 266
- Verses From the Holy Qur'an 266
- Tradition Concerning Moses 267
- Sayings of the Prophet on Contentment 267
- Philosophical Sayings on Contentment 268
- The Education of Yezdejird II's Heir, Bahram Gour 270
- The Bear and the Monkey 275
- The Hermit and the Thief 276
- Continuation of the Fable of the Bear and the Monkey 278
- The Miller and the Ass 281
- Continuation of the Fable of the Bear and the Monkey 284
- The King's Daughter and the Little Bird 285
- Continuation of the Fable of the Bear and the Monkey 287
- Continuation of the History of Bahram Gour 289
- The King of Persia's Jester 290
- End of the Story of Bahram Gour 294
- Elevation of Bahram Gour to the Throne of Persia 296
- 5. Self-denial 304
- Verses From the Holy Qur'an 304
- Traditions Concerning Muhammad 305
- Prose and Verse on the Wisdom of Self-denial 305
- The Daughter of the King of Najaf and the Muslim Commander Sa'ad Ibn Abi Waqqas 308
- Abdication of the Caliph Mu'awiya ibn Yazid 310
- Abdication of Nu'man 312
- Abdication of a Greek King 316
- Conversion of an Ossetian King to Christianity 318
- Self-denial of Babak, Son of Ardashir, the First Sassanid 322
- The Tame and Wild Elephants 325
- Continuation of Babak's Story 329
- The Herdsman and the Hermit 329
- The Restoration of a Deserted Monastery 331
- Conclusion of the Story of the Herdsman and the Hermit 334
- Disappearance of Babak 335.
- Notes:
- Includes bibliographical references (pages [337]-343) and index.
- Contains:
- Ibn Ẓafar, Muḥammad ibn ʻAbd Allāh, 1104-1169. Sulwan al-Mutaʻ fi ʻudwan al-atba. English.
- ISBN:
- 0863567835
- OCLC:
- 52357451
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