The Department of History at the College of Education for the Humanities, University of Kerbala, held a PhD dissertation defence for researcher Ahmed Ali Imran titled: “State-Building in the Works of Fourth-Century Hijri Scholars: Al-Farabi as a Model.” andsupervised by Prof. Maitham Murtada Nasrallah(PhD)
The significance of the study lies in exploring the concept of the state, shedding light on the general conditions of Al-Farabi’s era and their impact on major philosophers of that time, including Al-Farabi, Miskawayh, and Ikhwan al-Safa. The study also examines political sociology and the ideological divergence between Islamic political jurisprudence and political philosophy in the context of Qur’anic, Sunni, and human heritage perspectives on governance.
Al-Farabi’s political philosophy is analyzed through his theory of delegation, which defines the foundations of state-building, the role of individuals and society, and the classification of communities into ideal and misguided cities. The study further explores the position of the ruler, whom Al-Farabi likens to the heart of the body, and discusses the political system, its structure, and its practical application.
Moreover, the dissertation is structured into three chaptersand reached several conclusions among which isthat a state consists of essential elements, including the individual, society, and the philosopher-king, the theory of mutual service (Takadum), which guides the state and society toward higher ideals and ultimate objectives, and the interplay between governance and political philosophy in shaping the ideal state.
The dissertation was evaluated by the following committee members:
1. Prof. Haidar Mohammed Abdullah(PhD) Chairman
2. Prof. Alawi Mazhar Mazal(PhD) Member
3. Prof. Abeer Abdul-Rasool Mohammed(PhD) Member
4. Prof. Mohammed Wadi Shanawa(PhD) Member
5. Prof. Salwa Hassan Aidan(PhD) Member
6. Prof. Maitham Murtada Nasrallah(PhD) Member & Supervisor
