How Effectively does Hourani use Ibn Khaldun - Essay Example

Abd al-Rahm Ibn Khaldun belonged to a migrating family which has traveled from southern Arabia from Spain after the Arabs had conquered it. One cannot diminish the fact that Ibn Khaldun was bought with very traditional values that revolved around the Quran and the Sunnah. The Word of God as revealed in the Arabic language influenced ibn Khaldun’s personality to implement the shariah that he acquired from birth. Ibn Khaldun was an Arab historian that dramatically shaped the history that is written in more books.

With that being said, Ibn Khaldun was utilized effectively to discuss many aspects that dominated society in his time period. The first reason that Hourani utilizes Ibn Khaldun is his ability to utilize Islamic knowledge and draw connections that are parallel in real life. One of the prime examples of this can be seen about the concept of freewill and pre-destination. Ibn Khaldun utilizes his mastery skills to analyze and ponder on this fact that left the Muslims in a state of confusion. Since the dawn of mankind, theologians have questioned where humans are given free will or have been predestined.

This question has puzzled some of the most scholars known throughout the history. What is more intriguing is the fact that even religions under the Abrahamic tradition have different viewpoints regarding this issue. While the Christian doctrine states that “All humans have sinned,” Islam has taken a different approach regarding this sensitive issue. Undoubtedly, life is full of challenges, surprises, and works in mysterious ways. One cannot ignore the fact that certain circumstance that occur in life that one cannot control.

Hence, the issue of fate and freewill become vital aspects in this discussion. Freewill is a meaningful theory that insists on unlimited experience of choice. Free will is a doctrine that refutes the idea of pre-destination. Freewill is a choice that individual possess that yields an outcome which is unknown. The concept itself is very unique in a sense that it does take into account of external factors. Ibn Khalud takes a very logical approach towards this issue as he breaks the issue into two components, which consist of “predestination” and “fate.

” He insists that human beings have never seen the past and can only anticipate the future, based on the “natural law.” Moreover, he insists in his works that it is not incumbent upon God to do the best for humans; however, this does not mean that God will not in fact do the best of his own free will. Hence, Hourani utilizes the mastery of knowledge of Ibn Khalud to dissolve the confusion of this theory. The second reason Hourani utilizes Ibn Khalud to discuss the strength of the Islamic nation in midst of a batter to appoint the caliphood.

Hourani appreciates Ibn Khalud’s take on life, his work, and his relentless against trials and tribulations. Ibn Khalud’s attitude to remain calm during a time where the plague destroyed a city is the embodiment of leaderships that he possessed. This could be brilliantly illustrated as Hourani states, “Ibn’s world was full of reminders of the frailty of the human endeavor” (Hourani, 4). Hourani also discusses the development of the Makkan Empire and discusses the political reform that Muhammad conducted with the assistance of Ibn Khalud.

One must acknowledge the fact that Muhammad entered the era