Ibn Khaldun’s Scholarship on Societal Reform
摘要
The chapter provides a brief biography of Ibn Khaldun. Then, it proceeds to examine Ibn Khaldun’s scholarship on Umran and its basic elements, which include Ijtima, Ta’awun, and Difa’ for the successful organisation of human society. In addition, the chapter examines two types of human societies, which Ibn Khaldun categorised as Badawi and Hadari. It exposes people’s lifestyles in both societies and highlights the qualities that distinguish each one from the other. However, the chapter examines the role of Asabiyyah (group feeling, blood ties, brotherhood, solidarity, and social cohesion) in the transformation of human society from a simple life to one marked by extravagance. By considering this, the chapter examines the thoughts of some founding fathers of Western sociology on social change. It explores how they share similar views with Ibn Khaldun on the evolution of human societies. Moreover, the chapter analyzes the differences between the strength and power of Asabiyyah in Umran Badawi and Umran Hadari, as well as the factors that lead to the decline of the latter. Similarly, the chapter vividly elucidates the necessity of Asabiyyah in any religious calling for reformation in human society (Umran). Additionally, for the safety of human society, the chapter examines the necessity of Asabiyyah in appointing someone to serve as an authority to prevent unnecessary attacks in society. The chapter explores the nature of political leadership in a society, which can be based on either religious laws or rational politics. It surveys how Asabiyyah and religion cement leadership in human society.