The Muqaddimah Paperback – 1 May 2019

This abridged Indian subcontinent edition of The Muqaddimah, translated by Franz Rosenthal, is a beautiful production in the Bollingen Series by the Princeton University Press. A reader, I am sure, would enjoy reading this volume of the famous Arab Muslim scholar Ibn Khaldun of the fourteenth-century.In a new introduction to the volume, Bruce Lawrence introduces the reader to the core concept 'asabiah' permeating all of Khaldun's work. It is a group feeling by sameness, a glue that binds members of group together. Neither religion nor state can compensate for this cohesive power.In the chapters that follow, Khaldun underlines the need for group feeling, especially in context of the evolution of Arab Muslim culture. He starts from a natural group of Bedouin pastoralists of the desert where group feeling comes naturally. As the sedentary mode of life takes roots, towns and cities evolve. In these organisations, the flourishing of group feeling occurs with religious propaganda, and by the state power. Khaldun is very clear that group feeling goes with blood line, and gets diluted when blood ties become thinner.In Chapter 5, Khaldun defines basic concepts about human living. Livelihood, Khaldun defines as a desire for sustenance and effort to obtain it. The latter involves human labour which results in profit. The profit used, he says, is sustenance. But Khaldun underlines that the existence and flourishing of human species materialise only through cooperation of all men. In the bigger organisations the cooperation is obtained through use of force by people of higher ranks. One of the requirements of these organisations is development of craft. People master various skills necessary for sedentary lifestyle. But many of such skills are due to the desire for luxury. Among the crafts, Khaldun says, writing is most useful. It involves transition from verbal to written symbols, through thinking and imagination.How clear is Khaldun's commentary on different branches of science, one has to go through Chapter 6. Man's ability to think makes him distinct from animals. Khaldun writes that human action in the outer world materialises through thinking about causal order of things. Such continuous interaction is learning, the experimental instinct he says. Scientific perceptions are above the perception of senses. Khaldun considers scientific instructions under crafts.Intellectual sciences in Khaldun's classification include: logic, elemental (minerals, plans and animals), metaphysical, and mathematical (geometry, arithmetic, music and astronomy). Khaldun's understanding about them is impeccable. Here is an example about geometrical sciences: 'One's application to geometry does to the mind what soap does to a garment.' He goes on, the science of optics in geometry has immense importance in understanding errors of visual perception: nearby things appear large and far away small, or the variations in the size of moon at different latitudes.Logic is the science to enhance man's ability to think, and derive right conclusions. In introducing the eight books of his time on logic, Khaldun writes about the importance of analogical reasoning in poetry, how to invent parables and similes. Equally interesting is commentary on sciences such as sorcery and talismans. These are the psychic powers one aspires for, writes Khaldun, to influence the material elements with or without the aid of celestial matters.Lastly, Khaldun leaves it to the reader, whether, or not, confining imagination to body is a belief that is too narrow? What then about the joy or happiness which Muhammad promises to his followers, asks Khaldun?

Good quality

"Undoubtedly the greatest work of its kind that has ever been created by any mind in any time or place... the most comprehensive and illuminating analysis of how human affairs work that has been made anywhere." - Arnold J Toynbee, observer.Giving it a 5 star rating is a major injustice to this masterpiece. One of the foremost, brilliant and erudite pieces of scholarship from the classical age. A highly illuminating and interesting work.

Treat to history lovers

Got the book I'm exact form.

Nice book. Elucid written. Go for it. Best classical book on social sciences.

Next time be more careful... ❤😇

Good book