Purity of Faith, Madhhab Partisanship, and Legitimising Ideology in the Great Seljuq Sultanate
In: Islamic Law and SocietySearch for other papers by D.G. Tor in
Current site
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Abstract
The madhhab is usually investigated from the standpoint of fiqh. But there was also a social aspect to the importance of the madhhab, which at no time played a more crucial social role than during the Seljuq period (1040–1194). In particular, Ḥanafī madhhab affiliation became both the post-conquest ideological justification for Seljuq rule, and the glue holding together the two elements of the Seljuq ruling class: The Turkish magnates and the Khurasani bureaucrats. This article proves three points: First, that the original Seljuq conquest neither looked like nor purported to be the religious mission the Seljuqs later claimed it was; second, it traces the post-facto madhhab-based justification of their rule which the Seljuqs adopted, and its success in obtaining Khurasani support for the Seljuq regime; and, finally, it shows also the negative consequences this ideology of partisan Ḥanafism had on the internal peace of their realm and its urban flourishing.
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Purity of Faith, Madhhab Partisanship, and Legitimising Ideology in the Great Seljuq Sultanate
In: Islamic Law and SocietySearch for other papers by D.G. Tor in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
The madhhab is usually investigated from the standpoint of fiqh. But there was also a social aspect to the importance of the madhhab, which at no time played a more crucial social role than during the Seljuq period (1040–1194). In particular, Ḥanafī madhhab affiliation became both the post-conquest ideological justification for Seljuq rule, and the glue holding together the two elements of the Seljuq ruling class: The Turkish magnates and the Khurasani bureaucrats. This article proves three points: First, that the original Seljuq conquest neither looked like nor purported to be the religious mission the Seljuqs later claimed it was; second, it traces the post-facto madhhab-based justification of their rule which the Seljuqs adopted, and its success in obtaining Khurasani support for the Seljuq regime; and, finally, it shows also the negative consequences this ideology of partisan Ḥanafism had on the internal peace of their realm and its urban flourishing.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 363 | 363 | 106 |
| Full Text Views | 23 | 23 | 5 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 57 | 57 | 14 |