Title Philosophers, sufis, and caliphs : politics and authority from Cordoba to Cairo and Baghdad / Ali Humayun Akhtar, Bates College, Maine ; University of Wisconsin-Madison

Published Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 2017 ©2017

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Description 1 online resource (xiii, 262 pages) : illustrations, maps Contents Rival caliphs in Baghdad and Cairo -- A third caliphate in Cordoba -- Political reform among the later Abbasids -- Sufi metaphysics in the twelfth century -- A new political model and its Sufi dimensions -- The transformation of caliphal politics Summary What was the relationship between government and religion in Middle Eastern history? In a world of caliphs, sultans, and judges, who exercised political and religious authority? In this book, Ali Humayun Akhtar investigates debates about leadership that involved ruling circles and scholars of jurisprudence and theology. At the heart of this story is a medieval rivalry between three caliphates: the Umayyads of Cordoba, the Fatimids of Cairo, and the Abbasids of Baghdad. In a fascinating revival of Late Antique Hellenism, Aristotelian and Platonic notions of wisdom became a key component of how these caliphs debated their authority as political leaders. By tracing how these political debates impacted the theological and jurisprudential scholars and their own conception of communal guidance, Akhtar offers a new picture of premodern political authority and the connections between Western and Islamic civilizations. It will be of use to students and specialists of the premodern and modern Middle East Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes Print version record SUBJECT Umayyad dynasty fast Abbasiden 749-1258 gnd Fatimiden 909-1171 gnd Subject Islam and politics. Caliphs. Sultans. Judges. Fatimites. Abbasids. Sufis. Islamic philosophy. Philosophy, Ancient -- Influence Fatimid. Abbasid. RELIGION -- Islam -- General. Abbasids Caliphs Fatimites Islam and politics Islamic philosophy Judges Philosophy, Ancient -- Influence Politics and government Sufis Sultans Autorität Herrschaft Islam Philosophie Politik Sufismus Ulema SUBJECT Islamic Empire -- Politics and government Subject Islamic Empire Kalifat Córdoba Form Electronic book ISBN 9781316855669 131685566X 9781316860397 1316860396 9781316633090 1316633098

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