By: Mohammed Sirajuddin, Hon. Fellow, Furqania Academy
Trans. by: Atya Tabassum, Fellow, FAW

Ibn Khaldun, the well-known Arab historian, sociologist and philosopher of history, was born in Tunisia on 1st of Ramazan 732 AH corresponding to 27 May 1332 AD.(1) Ibn Khaldun was a brilliant philosopher of history, a genius and a great thinker human history ever produced.

George Sarton writes in his book Introduction to the History of Science that Ibn Khaldun was a great historian, politician, sociologist and an economist, and an in-depth student of human relations.(2) Flint writes in his book History of the Philosophy of History:

“Plato, Aristotle and Augustine were not his peers, and all others were unworthy of being even mentioned along with him.”(3)

Omar A. Farooq states in his book “Arab Genes in Science and Philosophy” that not only the science of history but sociology also has been innovated by Ibn Khaldun.(4)

A.J. Tynbee in his book Study of History says that in the preface of his (Ibn Khaldun) History of the World (Kitab al-Ibr) he (Ibn Khaldun) formulated the philosophy of history in his mind which is the greatest work of its kind, which the human mind has ever produced.(5)

The full name of Ibn Khaldun is Abu Zaid Waliuddin Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed bin Mohammed bin al-Hassan bin Mohammad bin Jabir bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim bin Abdul Rahman bin Khaldun who is generally known by the simple and abbreviated name of Ibn Khaldun. Who came to Spain at the end of the first century AH when the Muslims conquered Andalusia (Spain).(6)

This family lived in Seville (Spain), but when the Christians gained control of the city in the seventh century AH, Ibn Khaldun’s family migrated to Africa, and joined the royal family in Tunisia. They worked in many positions there. It is said that this family always dreamed of a kingdom and that is why Ibn Khaldun always dived into this thought.

Ibn Khaldun was born in Tunisia on first of Ramazan 732 AH/ May 27, 1332 AD. Ibn Khaldun received traditional education in his childhood. In his book Ibn Khaldun (Arabic), translated by Moulana Abdul Salam Nadvi, Dr. Taha Hussain, a renowned professor at the Egyptian University, writes that Mohammed ibn Khaldun taught his son the principles of recitation, handwriting, grammar, literature and jurisprudence. Ibn Khaldun memorized the Holy Qur’an, and recited it according to the seven recitations. He studied Hadith through Mawtta of Imam Malik, Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari. He also studied Islamic jurisprudence through Imam Malik’s famous book “Al-Mudawwana”. He also studied theology and logic. He also memorized many poems of Jahiliyyah, Diwan Hamasa and many poems of Abbasid period.(7)

Ibn Khaldun completed his education at the age of 20 years and after obtaining a certificate from the teachers, he was appointed as the “secretary” in the royal court. His official duty was to affix the seal of the king on the official decrees. He continued to perform his duties on this position for some time. But when the king was attacked by an army and he was forced to leave the city, he took Ibn Khaldun too with him. Ibn Khaldun went out with the king to get rid of the king. As soon as they reached the borders of Morocco, he left him and went to Persia, because he had seen the weakness of the Tunisian government. He now came to the service of Sultan Abu Anan and the Sultan appointed him as his secretary. Ibn Khaldun reluctantly accepted this position, because none of his ancestors had accepted this position. Despite being in his youth, he considered himself worthy of the highest office in the kingdom. Due to his dislike of the post and his own failure, he started correspondence with Amir Mahdi Hakim, ruler of Bejaia, who was then imprisoned in the prison of Fes, and the two started plotting to revolt together. Their intention was to have the Amir as king and Ibn Khaldun as his prime minister, but when the secret of this conspiracy was revealed before the time, Ibn Khaldun was put behind the bars and was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

After the death of the Sultan and Hasan ibn Umar taking the reign, i.e., in the year 759 AH, he got rid of this punishment, and Hasan ibn Umar released him by giving him many gifts and property. Ibn Khaldun quickly began his career like a hurricane. He was appointed as king’s secretary many times. He held the post of ambassador to Baskara and Talisman. He then reached Andalusia by sea in 764 AH. He was received warmly by the Minister of Sultan of Granada, Lisanuddin Khatib. The Sultan also welcomed him warmly and trusted him so much that he sent him to Seville as an ambassador to the court of Peter The Cruel.(8) This was the city where his family had settled. When Ibn Khaldun returned to Granada, the Sultan gave him huge rewards and gifts, and the king wanted Ibn Khaldun to stay here and promised that his family’s inheritance would be returned. Now Ibn Khaldun called his family and became associated with the royal court. In this way, Ibn Khaldun was sometimes surrounded by royal pleasures and was sometimes humiliated. He also had to go to jail twice in his life.

Ibn Khaldun was associated with the royal court in Granada (Spain). The relationship between the Sultan and Ibn Khaldun was so good that he used to recite poems in the praise of Sultan at ceremonies and celebrations. But after a while, jealousy and envy arose in the heart of Ibn Khaldun’s old friend Wazir Lisanuddin Khatib and he became his enemy. At the same time, Ibn Khaldun received a letter from Abu Abdullah Hamd, the ruler of Bejaia, who had regained his throne and crown, in which he expressed his desire to offer him the post of prime minister. Therefore, with the permission of Sultan, Ibn Khaldun returned to Africa in 766 AH/ 1365 AD, and became the Minister of Bejaia. Here he carried on the work of organization of education and affairs of the kingdom.(9) Shortly afterwards, the Sultan’s brother invaded Bejaia and the Sultan was killed in the battle. Ibn Khaldun remained in this position after handing over the city to the conqueror. But the ruler did not trust Ibn Khaldun. Therefore, Ibn Khaldun had to leave and come to the service of Sultan of Talisman. After that Ibn Khaldun continued to serve in the courts of various rulers of North Africa. Sometimes he would be forced to side with one ruler, sometimes with another ruler.

He arrived in Granada (Spain) for the second time in 1374 AD. But Sultan of Granada was also angry with Ibn Khaldun this time. So he forced Ibn Khaldun to return to Talisman (Africa). Here the Sultan sent him to an expedition to a Bedouin tribe. So he accepted this campaign halfheartedly and as soon as he left the city he took another route and sent an apology to the Sultan. He stayed in a palace known as Qila Ibn Salamah and called his family (1375 AD). He lived here for four years. During that time he was engaged only in teaching and studying. He penned here his famous preface “Maqdama”, which is based not only on his scientific research but also on his political experiments.(10)

References:
1- Ibn Khaldun, Moulana Abdus Salam Nadvi, Darul Musannifen, Azamgarh, P. 3.
2- Introduction to the History of Science as quoted in Muqaddimah Ibn Khaldun (Urdu) P. 82.
3- Studies in Muslim Philosphy, by M. Sayeed Shaikh, Adam Publishers, Delhi, P. 183.
4- Ibn Khaldun’s Science of Human Culture, P. 8
5- A Study of History, by Arnold Toynbi, Vol. 3, P. 32, as quoted in PP. 83, in Muslim Philosophy.
6- Ibn Khaldun, Moulana Abdul Salam Nadvi, P. 1.
7- Ibn Khaldun, Moulana Abdul Salam Nadvi, P. 6.
8- Encyclopaedia Britanica, Vol. 20, P. 573.
9- Ibn Khaldun, Moulana Abdul Salam Nadvi, P. 10-11.
10- Ibn Khaldun’s Science of Human Culture, P. 20.