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Acknowledgments I I
A Note on Transliteration 12
Maxims from the Sulwan al-Muta' 13
Foreword by Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan 17
BOOK ONE: THE JUST PRINCE
1. The Significance of Ibn Zafar al-Siqilli's Work 31
Power and Authority: Theoretical Perspectives 31
Ibn Zafar: An Overview 37
Ibn Zafar: A Biographical Sketch 39
Ibn Zafar's Literary Legacy 41
2. Counselling the Prince: An Historical Overview 43
Ibn Zafar's Predecessors 43
Ibn Zafar's Successors 54
The Western Tradition 58
3. The Sulwan al-Muta': Analysis of a Magnum Opus 66
Ibn Zafar's Historical Milieu 66
Method of Analysis: Historicism 69
Five Maxims 71
Idealism versus Realism: Mosca's Paradox 76
Theories of Revolution 80
The Virtuous Prince 85
The Ruler as Servant 88
The Graceful Prince 89
The Pragmatic Prince 90
A Good Counsellor 93
4. Ibn Zafar and Machiavelli: A Comparative Analysis 97
Crisis Environments 98
Two Princes, Two Authors 98
Methods of Analysis I00
Selecting Good Advisors 102
The Religious Prince versus the Secular Prince 106
Worldviews and Human Nature I08
Qualities of the Prince I09
Rules of Governance III
Fate versus Will II3
5. Ibn Zafar: A Retrospective Assessment 115
Universality and Modernity 115
Apostle of a Moral Order 116
Tolerance and Moderation 118
Virtuous Leadership and SocialJustice 119
BOOK TWO: SULWAN AL-MUTA' FI 'UDWAN AL-ATBA'
Preface to the First Edition 123
Preface to the Second Edition 139
Verses 140
I. Trust in God 145
Verses From the Holy Qur'an 145
Pharaoh and his Kinsman I46
Tradition Concerning the Prophet Muhammad 150
Philosophical Maxims on Trust in God 151
Dialogue Between al-Walid ibn Yazd and a Poor Dweller 153
Adventure of the Umayyad Caliph 'Abd al-Malik
ibn Marwan and 'Abdallah ibn al-Zubayr 155
The Two Foxes and the Serpent 160
The Peacock and the Cock 165
The Two Ministers I68
End of the Tale of the Two Ministers 171
End of the Tale of the Two Foxes 171
End of 'Abd al-Malik's Adventure 173
Conclusion of the Dialogue of al-Walid 174
Al-Ma'mun and the Old Persian 175
The King of the White Huns and Firuz King of Persia 18I
Conclusion of the Adventure of al-Ma'mun 188
2. Fortitude 189
Verses From the Holy Qur'an 189
Traditions of the Prophet Concerning Fortitude 192
Philosophical Maxims Concerning Fortitude 193
Sapor, King of Persia, and the Roman Emperor 196
'Ayn Ahlih and the Old Woman 207
The Horse and the Wild Boar 209
The Gazelle and the Antelope 215
Conclusion of 'Ayn Ahlih's Tale 220
Conclusion of Sapor's Adventure 223
3. Patience 227
Verses From the Holy Qur'an 227
Attempt on the Prophet's Life 227
Sayings of the Prophet Concerning Patience 229
Philosophical Statements Concerning Patience 230
The Poise of Chosroes Anushirvan 232
An Example of 'Abbasid Caliph Musa al-Hadi's Valour 233
Chosroes Anushirvan's Campaign in India 234
The Rat and the Gerbil 248
Continuation of the Enterprise of Chosroes 252
A Citien of Madina Speaks to 'Uthman ibn 'Affan 263
Sayings of a Philosopher to Yezdejird II 264
4. Contentment 266
Verses From the Holy Qur'an. 266
Tradition Concerning Mvoses 267
Sayings of the Prophet on Contentment 267
Philosophical Sayings on Contentment 268
The Education of Yezdejird II's Heir, Bahram Gour 270
The Bear and the Monkey 275
The Hermit and the Thief 276
Continuation of the Fable of the Bear and the Monkey 278
The Miller and the Ass 281
Continuation of the Fable of the Bear and the Monkey 284
The King's Daughter and the Little Bird 285
Continuation of the Fable of the Bear and the Monkey 287
Continuation of the History of Bahram Gour 289
The King of Persia's Jester 290
End of the Story of Bahram Gour 294
Elevation of Bahram Gour to the Throne of Persia 296
5. Self-denial 304
Verses From the Holy Qur'an 304
Traditions Concerning Muhammad 305
Prose and Verse on the Wisdom of Self-denial 305
The Daughter of the King of Najaf and the Muslim Commander
Sa'ad Ibn Abi Waqqas 308
Abdication of the Caliph Mu'awiya ibn Yazid 3 I
Abdication of Nu'man 312
Abdication of a Greek King 3I6
Conversion of an Ossetian King to Christianity 318
Self-denial of Babak, Son of Ardashir, the First Sassanid 322
The Tame and Wild Elephants 325
Continuation of Babak's Story 329
The Herdsman and the Hermit 329
The Restoration of a Deserted Monastery 331
Conclusion of the Story of the Herdsman and the Hermit 334
Disappearance ofBabak 335
Conclusion 335
Bibliography 337
Index 344
Library of Congress Subject Headings for this publication: Ibn òZafar, Muhòammad ibn °Abd Allåah, 1104-1169, Sulwan al-Muta° fi °udwan al-atba, Machiavelli, Niccoláo, 1469-1527, Principe, Education of princes, Political leadership, Political science Philosophy, Islamic ethics