TP Reminder – Principles of Reforming Society – 30/04/2025

As part of our final week of studies in the Tarbiyya Program for this year, we completed the noble biography of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahimahullah). In our study, we briefly discussed the books attributed to him and provided an overview of his methodology in Fiqh, as well as how his approach differed from that of the other Imams.

For the remainder of our session, we reflected on an excerpt from Imam al-Mawardi’s (450 A.H.) influential work Adab al-Dunyā wa al-Dīn (The Ethics of Religion and of the World). Imam al- Mawardi (rahimahullah) was a polymath, excelling in various fields, with his most influential contributions included Fiqh, Theology, and Political Science. He served as the Chief Judge of the Abbasid Empire for over 50 years and is widely regarded as one of the earliest scholars to write on political theory, governance, and society—paving the way for later thinkers like Ibn Khaldun.

In his book, he outlines six essential principles by which the world is reformed, and its affairs are properly managed. These are:

1. Followed Religion
2. Dominant Leadership
3. Comprehensive Justice
4. Public Safety
5. Economic Prosperity
6. Abundant Opportunities / Hope

We explored each of these principles, discussing whether we agreed with them and considering whether any additions could be made, especially given that Imam al-Mawardi (rahimahullah) was writing during the Abbasid Caliphate—a time when the Islamic Caliphate still existed, albeit in a state of growing fragmentation.

Finally, we turned our attention to the practical application of these principles—considering how we might implement them in our personal lives, within our households, and in our local communities.