Governance As a Delicate Balance: On the Concept of Luṭf in Islamic Mirrors for Princes

<p dir="ltr">This article is concerned with Islamic works on political ethics as a practical guide for competent governance. The article primarily focuses on the concept of <i>luṭf </i>(gentleness) in the works of <i>al-ādāb al-sulṭāniyya</i> (the ethics of go...

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Main Author: Fadi Zatari (22030823) (author)
Other Authors: Omar Fili (22030826) (author)
Published: 2024
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author Fadi Zatari (22030823)
author2 Omar Fili (22030826)
author2_role author
author_facet Fadi Zatari (22030823)
Omar Fili (22030826)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Fadi Zatari (22030823)
Omar Fili (22030826)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024-03-08T03:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1163/24685542-20240005
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Governance_As_a_Delicate_Balance_On_the_Concept_of_Lu_f_in_Islamic_Mirrors_for_Princes/29881286
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Human society
Political science
Law and legal studies
International and comparative law
Philosophy and religious studies
Philosophy
Religious studies
Al-ādāb al-sulṭāniyya
Islamic mirrors for princes
luṭf
moderation
elites
competent governance
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Governance As a Delicate Balance: On the Concept of Luṭf in Islamic Mirrors for Princes
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <p dir="ltr">This article is concerned with Islamic works on political ethics as a practical guide for competent governance. The article primarily focuses on the concept of <i>luṭf </i>(gentleness) in the works of <i>al-ādāb al-sulṭāniyya</i> (the ethics of government, i.e., Islamic mirrors for princes). The main argument is that Muslim writers of <i>al-ādāb al-sulṭāniyya</i> literature warned rulers against depending on coercive power as the basic mode of governance. Instead, the majority emphasized that the most practical way to govern a state was to practice governance based on a balance between rewards and punishments. Based on their advice, rulers should avoid cruelty in favor of an interdependent political order based on social cooperation between the different classes. The article first explains the concept of <i>luṭf</i> and the importance of avoiding cruelty. Second, the article relates how<i> luṭf </i>operates in the realm of public policy, ruler-people relations, and the responsibility of rulers. Finally, the article highlights how luṭf dictates a functional elite structure based on loyalty and mutual respect. The methodology of this article relies on primary sources, mostly analyzing the presence of <i>luṭf</i> as a concept and the details of governance surrounding the concept. The article seeks to show the intricacies of the state through understanding the concept of <i>luṭf</i> and its relation with practicing politics in a cohesive Muslim social structure.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Journal of Islamic Ethics<br>License: <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1163/24685542-20240005" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1163/24685542-20240005</a></p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">Volume and issue information: Vol 8 No. 1-2 (2024): December 2024</p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
id Manara2_c679ae4b6592bc25cb53c4172e5ed462
identifier_str_mv 10.1163/24685542-20240005
network_acronym_str Manara2
network_name_str Manara2
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/29881286
publishDate 2024
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rights_invalid_str_mv CC BY 4.0
spelling Governance As a Delicate Balance: On the Concept of Luṭf in Islamic Mirrors for PrincesFadi Zatari (22030823)Omar Fili (22030826)Human societyPolitical scienceLaw and legal studiesInternational and comparative lawPhilosophy and religious studiesPhilosophyReligious studiesAl-ādāb al-sulṭāniyyaIslamic mirrors for princesluṭfmoderationelitescompetent governance<p dir="ltr">This article is concerned with Islamic works on political ethics as a practical guide for competent governance. The article primarily focuses on the concept of <i>luṭf </i>(gentleness) in the works of <i>al-ādāb al-sulṭāniyya</i> (the ethics of government, i.e., Islamic mirrors for princes). The main argument is that Muslim writers of <i>al-ādāb al-sulṭāniyya</i> literature warned rulers against depending on coercive power as the basic mode of governance. Instead, the majority emphasized that the most practical way to govern a state was to practice governance based on a balance between rewards and punishments. Based on their advice, rulers should avoid cruelty in favor of an interdependent political order based on social cooperation between the different classes. The article first explains the concept of <i>luṭf</i> and the importance of avoiding cruelty. Second, the article relates how<i> luṭf </i>operates in the realm of public policy, ruler-people relations, and the responsibility of rulers. Finally, the article highlights how luṭf dictates a functional elite structure based on loyalty and mutual respect. The methodology of this article relies on primary sources, mostly analyzing the presence of <i>luṭf</i> as a concept and the details of governance surrounding the concept. The article seeks to show the intricacies of the state through understanding the concept of <i>luṭf</i> and its relation with practicing politics in a cohesive Muslim social structure.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Journal of Islamic Ethics<br>License: <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1163/24685542-20240005" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1163/24685542-20240005</a></p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">Volume and issue information: Vol 8 No. 1-2 (2024): December 2024</p>2024-03-08T03:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1163/24685542-20240005https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Governance_As_a_Delicate_Balance_On_the_Concept_of_Lu_f_in_Islamic_Mirrors_for_Princes/29881286CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/298812862024-03-08T03:00:00Z
spellingShingle Governance As a Delicate Balance: On the Concept of Luṭf in Islamic Mirrors for Princes
Fadi Zatari (22030823)
Human society
Political science
Law and legal studies
International and comparative law
Philosophy and religious studies
Philosophy
Religious studies
Al-ādāb al-sulṭāniyya
Islamic mirrors for princes
luṭf
moderation
elites
competent governance
status_str publishedVersion
title Governance As a Delicate Balance: On the Concept of Luṭf in Islamic Mirrors for Princes
title_full Governance As a Delicate Balance: On the Concept of Luṭf in Islamic Mirrors for Princes
title_fullStr Governance As a Delicate Balance: On the Concept of Luṭf in Islamic Mirrors for Princes
title_full_unstemmed Governance As a Delicate Balance: On the Concept of Luṭf in Islamic Mirrors for Princes
title_short Governance As a Delicate Balance: On the Concept of Luṭf in Islamic Mirrors for Princes
title_sort Governance As a Delicate Balance: On the Concept of Luṭf in Islamic Mirrors for Princes
topic Human society
Political science
Law and legal studies
International and comparative law
Philosophy and religious studies
Philosophy
Religious studies
Al-ādāb al-sulṭāniyya
Islamic mirrors for princes
luṭf
moderation
elites
competent governance