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Systems of Islamic Civilization

The document outlines the political and administrative systems of Islamic civilization, focusing on key positions such as the Caliph, ministers, public ombudsman, scribes, enforcement officers, and chamberlains. It details the roles, responsibilities, and historical significance of these positions, highlighting the evolution of power dynamics within the Islamic state. The Caliph serves as a religious and secular leader, while ministers and other officials support governance and oversight functions.

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8 views13 pages

Systems of Islamic Civilization

The document outlines the political and administrative systems of Islamic civilization, focusing on key positions such as the Caliph, ministers, public ombudsman, scribes, enforcement officers, and chamberlains. It details the roles, responsibilities, and historical significance of these positions, highlighting the evolution of power dynamics within the Islamic state. The Caliph serves as a religious and secular leader, while ministers and other officials support governance and oversight functions.

Uploaded by

Anonym991
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Systems of Islamic

Civilization
The Political and Administrative
Systems
Political and Administrative
Systems
This Unit will focus on the
following positions:

-The Caliphate
-The Ministers
-Public Ombudsman
-Scribes
-Enforcement
-Representative (Chamberlain)
The Caliphate .1
• “Caliph” in Arabic comes from khalaf, “to succeed,

represent”

• Caliph in usage means the general oversight of religious

and secular matters for Muslims

• Conditions for being the Caliph:

To be an adult, sane, free, male Muslim

• Symbols: Cloak, ring, rod/staff

• Representations: Sermons, Court practices


Ministers :2
Linguistic Origins:
-From wizr, or burden
-From wazr, or refuge
-From Azr, or “back”, as the Caliph is strengthened by
his ministers
Eligibility:
Trustworthiness, intelligence, not from people who follow
their desires, experience and wisdom
Examples:
-Minister of the Executive: Implements orders of the
Caliph
-Minister of Delegation: Where the Caliph delegates his
powers to that of the minister
Competencies of the Delegated Minister:
Self-rule and the ability to issue rules
Act as an ombudsman
Implement financial policies (treasury)
Defend the Caliphate and the populous
Appoint governors
Distinctions of the Delegated Ministers:
-Fadimid al-Mustansir who faced a plague (7 years),
delegated Badr al-Jamali of Acre to handle it
Increased Importance of Delegated Ministers:
-That the Caliph had no real power (2nd Abbasid Period)
-Began interfering in the appointment of the Caliph
according to his will (reasons of the Fatimid collapse)
Origins of the Position of Minister:
-Opinion: As a result of the Abbasid victory over the
Ummayads (Abu Salama al-Khalal for al-Saffah)
-Opinion: During the time of Harun al-Rashid (Barmaka
family)
Additional Positions .3
Positions:
•Important civil servants who worked to support the state

Scribes

At the time of the Prophet:


-Those who recorded Revalation
Umayyad Period:
-Scribes of Official Letters (most important)
-Scribe of the Land Tax (al-kharaj)
-Scribe of the Police
-Scribe of the Judges
Abbasid Period:
-Official Letter Scribes were those of high-ranking families
-Ex. Yahya b. Khalid b. Barmak, al-Fadl and al-Hasan b. Sahl (al-
Ma’mun), al-Zayat and Ibn Wahab and Ibn al-Mudabbir (al-
Musta’sam and al-Wathiq)
• Public Ombudsman

 Oversight of governors who were unjust to their


populations
 Prohibited unjust actions of state servants
 Oversight of the court scribes

• Enforcement (Market Inspector) - Hisba

 Religious position based on the concept of “Promoting


virtue and preventing vice”, juristic works were written
to describe their duties in detail
 Main duty to oversee markets, prevent cheating and
crowd control, uniquely Islamic position
 Types: fish markets, confectionaries, and People of the
Book
 The Inspector was to oversee all aspects of public life, to
protect both the people and the running of the state
•Caliph Representative (Chamberlain)

-Not known during the Rightly-Guided Caliphs

-First appeared during the Umayyad Period, after the


assassination attempt on Mu’awiyya by the Khawarij
-Increased during the Abbasid Period, became more
important than ministers, some attained mass wealth and
power (Seljuk and Atabek Periods), built buildings that noted
their presence
-Not known during the Fatimid Period

-Known during the Atabek, Ayyubid, and Mamluk Periods

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