Muqaddimah
Some modern thinkers view it as the first work dealing with the social sciences of sociology, demography, and cultural history. It also deals with Islamic theology, historiography, the philosophy of history, economics, political theory, and ecology.
- author
- Ibn Khaldun
- field
- History, social sciences, Islamic theology
- language
- Arabic
- known_for
- Introducing a 'new science' for the study of human society (ʿilm al-ʿumrān), concept of ʿasabiyyah (group feeling), and pioneering the scientific method in social sciences
- original_work
- Introduction and first book of Kitab al-ʿIbar
Lore & Background
Ibn Khaldun wrote the first version of the Muqaddimah in Qalʿat ibn Salama, where he secluded himself for almost four years after withdrawing from political life. Manuscripts copied in Ibn Khaldun's lifetime are extant, and a number of them have autographed marginal notes or additions.
Reader's Guide
The Muqaddimah is significant for its systematic approach to history and society, which Ibn Khaldun called his 'new science' (ʿilm al-ʿumrān). He criticized common errors among historians, including partisanship, over-confidence in sources, and ignorance of social laws. He introduced the scientific method to the social sciences, often referred to as his 'new science,' and developed his own terminology. The work was met without much enthusiasm or clear hostility in the first few centuries after it was written, though it was cited in Egypt by disciples like Al-Maqrizi and met with hostility by others. Ottoman historians valued its social and political theories but did not apply them to their own society.
Did You Know?
- The Muqaddimah was originally written as the introduction to Ibn Khaldun's world history, Kitab al-ʿIbar, but became regarded as an independent work in his lifetime.
- Ibn Khaldun introduced the concept of ʿasabiyyah (group feeling) to explain the rise and fall of civilizations.
- Ibn Khaldun's work on economics in the Muqaddimah includes the labor theory of value and analysis of supply and demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Muqaddimah?
The Muqaddimah is a foundational Arabic-language treatise written by Ibn Khaldun, originally serving as the prologue and first book of his larger work, Kitab al-ʿIbar. It is broadly recognized as a pioneering text that laid early groundwork for what we now call the social sciences.
Who wrote the Muqaddimah and what was his field?
Ibn Khaldun, a 14th-century scholar, composed the work. His intellectual range spanned history, social sciences, and Islamic theology, making him a towering figure in the broader canon of nonfiction and reference literature.
What is ʿasabiyyah and why does it matter in the Muqaddimah?
ʿAsabiyyah, often rendered as 'group feeling,' is Ibn Khaldun's concept for the social cohesion that binds a community and drives its political rise and eventual decline. It serves as a central analytical lens throughout the text for explaining how societies form, peak, and fragment.
What academic fields does the Muqaddimah actually cover?
Beyond historiography and Islamic theology, the text engages economics, political theory, ecology, demography, and cultural history. Many modern scholars regard it as the earliest systematic treatment of sociology and the philosophy of history.
Why is the Muqaddimah considered a landmark in the history of thought?
Ibn Khaldun coined the term ʿilm al-ʿumrān to describe his 'new science' of studying human society, applying a structured, quasi-scientific method to social phenomena. This approach set him apart from earlier chroniclers and positioned the work as a precursor to modern social-science methodology.
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