السياسة بين الأخلاق والمقاصد: عرض مقارن بين ابن تيمية والشاطبيّ

Abstract

Islamic scholars, including philosophers, sociologists, and jurists agree that the ultimate goal of the state or political authority is to achieve the welfare of the citizens and to bring goodness, prosperity, and happiness to the individual and society. This means safeguarding religion and managing worldly affairs. Political authority in Islam is based on a unique system consisting of two elements: ethics and objectives. These two elements constitute the highest goal of the prophetic message, as Sharia consists of the duality of ethics and interests. The article seeks to uncover the foundational moral and objective basis of political authority by providing a comparative analysis of the most important ethical objectives that must be possessed by uli al-amr, according to Imam Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728 AH) in his book "Al-Siyasah al-Shar'iyyah fi Islah al-Ra'i wa al-Ra'iyah," and Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi (d. 790 AH) in his book "Al-Muwafaqat." The article concludes that the purpose of establishing political authority cannot be realized unless it is framed within the framework of ethics and virtues that enjoin justice, trustworthiness, truth, and freedom. Furthermore, ethics in the realm of politics must be subjected to the hierarchical classification of objectives into necessities, needs, and improvements. Accordingly, priority should be given to the most crucial virtues, while averting the most harmful vices.