Religion as a Pillar for Establishing a Civilization: Al-Māwardī’s Perspective

  • Fadi Zatari Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA), Department of Political Science and International Relations, Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, Istanbul, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6413-7407
Keywords: religion, civilization, Islamic civilization, Abū al-Ḥasan al-Māwardī

Abstract

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This study examines religion in terms of establishing and maintaining a civilization based on Abū al-Ḥasan al-Māwardī’s (d. 1058) contribution, “Kitāb adab al-dunyā wa-al-dīn.” In this paper, the central argument is that religion is a pillar for establishing and maintaining civilization. There are no possibilities for a civilization to be constituted and maintained without a central role for religion. I will elaborate on the meaning of religion from al-Māwardī’s perspective and its role in constructing a civilization. This paper considers several religious notions and concepts proposed by al-Māwardī for this purpose. For instance, ‘al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb’ (persuasion and intimidation) and al-ulfah (social affinity) indicate how religion can affect individual behaviors and actions and helps create and maintain civilization. As a methodology, this paper analyses al-Māwardī’s contribution and compares it with significant contributions to civilization Studies. It concludes that a profound understanding of religion's role in any civilization gives a proper direction for understanding civilization and how religion can enhance and improve people's behavior and manners, which reflects positively on religion’s role in establishing and preserving a civilization.  

Keywords: Religion, Civilization, Islamic civilization, Abū al-Ḥasan al-Māwardī

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Published
2021-05-03
How to Cite
Zatari, Fadi. 2021. “Religion As a Pillar for Establishing a Civilization: Al-Māwardī’s Perspective ”. Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization 11 (1), 240-57. https://doi.org/10.32350/jitc.111.13.
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