political fragmentation and cultural diversity 233us a fine legacy of writing on the subject. This has enriched the lit-
erature of Islamic economics, some of which are discussed below.
Abùal-Hasan al-Màwardì(364 – 450 A.H., 972–1058 A.C.)al-Aœkàm al-Sùltàniyyah, Book of State Ordinance
The Author
Abùal-Œassan Ali Ibn Muœammad Ibn Habìb al-Màwardì was a
Shafì"i, born in Ba›rah in 972 A.C. Like many scholars of his time,
he studied the Qur"àn and Sunnah and then proceeded to learn
Fiqh, Islamic jurisprudence. His proficiency in jurisprudence, ethics,
political science and literature proved useful in securing him a
respectable career in Baghdad where, after an initial appointment as
a judge, he became the Chief Justice (Rahim, 1993). During the
time of the Abbasìd Caliph al-Qaìm bi Amr Allah (1031–1075) he
was appointed, perhaps with the ratification of the Bùwayhìds, as a
traveling ambassador and was sent to a number of countries as the
head of special missions, (Zahoor, 1997) That was the period when
the Bùwayhìds ruled the caliphate until they eventually fell under
the power of the Turkish Saljuqs who put an end to their rule in
- In this capacity al-Màwardìseemed to have played a key role
in establishing harmonious relations between the declining Abbasìd
Caliphate and the rising powers of Bùwayhìds and Saljukes. He was
still in Baghdad when it was taken over from the Bùwayhìds by the
Saljuq Turks.
Al-Màwardì’s contribution to political science and sociology com-
prises a number of monumental books, the most famous of which
are Kitàb al-Aœkàm al-Sùltàniyyah, Qanùn al-Wazarah, and Kitàb Nasihat
al-Mùlk. The books discuss the principles of political science, with
special reference to the functions and duties of the caliphs, the prime
minister, other ministers, and the relationships between the public
and government. Two of these books, al-Aœkàm al-Sùltàniyyah and
Qanùn al-Wazarahhave been published and also translated into various
languages. One of al-Màwardì’s works is al-Hàwi al-Kabìr, the All-
Encompassing Book, which is one of the most comprehensive books
on fiqh, jurisprudence, in general and the Shafì"i fiqh in particular.
He was a supporter of the ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ in political science.