Political Thought in the Mamluk Period: The Unnecessary Caliphate

A new history of medieval Islamic political thought, focusing on the rule of law, limited government and the theory of delegationStudies Ayyubid and Mamluk political thought beyond the prevalent focus on Ibn Taymiyya

• Offers a novel classification of the themes and concerns of medieval Islamic political thought
• Studies both Ibn Jamaʿa’s well-known works and previously unstudied treatises
• Presents a fresh interpretation of a distinctive Sufi political thought and uncovers its interrelatedness with Ashʿari-Sufism and Shafiʿism
• Includes 5 case studies based on treatises authored by legal theorists, jurists, judges and administrators

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.

Examining treatises by 5 carefully selected authors who flourished in the Syro-Egyptian lands in the period between c.1250 and c.1350, the book also deals with important questions of authorship, readership and dedicatees, authorial motives and intentions, genres and literary styles, sources and influences, and applicability.