Application of Ibn Khaldun’s Asabiyyah and State Theories to Marabouts

Abstract

This work aims to evaluate conformity of Ibn Khaldun’s state theory to the states established in Morocco and North Africa during the middle age with a special focus on Marabouts. Furthermore, it is of vital benefit to consider certain terms of the theory laid out by Ibn Khaldun. Thus, we study the terms such as asabiyyah, irtizaq, Hadarî, bedevi and their implications within the framework of Marabout state. The main question is how successful was Ibn Khaldun while evaluating the establishment mechanisms of the states in North Africa in the middle age. As widely known, Ibn Khaldun uses the examples of Marabouts and Muwahhids to support his state theory. Accordingly, we select the Marabouts to assess his theory. At first stage, we address the relation between Muqaddimah and Al-Iberia and Sanhace and politics. Later, we determine the factors and vital events neglected by Ibn Khaldun for the sake of proving his theory while applying to the Marabouts in Al-Iberia. Obviously, from our point of view, the neglected factors are such important that may lead to disproving of the theory.