Ibn Khaldun Quotes

Government is an institution which prevents injustice other than such as it commits itself. ~ Ibn Khaldun

Eventually, Aristotle appeared among the Greeks. He improved the methods of logic and systematized its problems and details. He assigned to logic its proper place as the first philosophical discipline and the introduction to philosophy. Therefore he is called the First Teacher. ~ Ibn Khaldun

According to Mustafa Elhussein, secretary of a center for Muslim intellectuals known as the Ibn Khaldun Society, "There is a great deal of bitterness that such groups have tarnished the reputation of mainstream Muslims" because "self-appointed leaders . . . spew hatred toward America and the West and yet claim to be the legitimate ~ Craig Unger

Muslims pursued knowledge to the edges of the earth. Al-Biruni, the central Asian polymath, is arguably the world's first anthropologist. The great linguists of Iraq and Persia laid the foundations a thousand years ago for subjects only now coming to the forefront in language studies. Ibn Khaldun, who is considered the first true scientific historian, argued hundreds of years ago that history should be based upon facts and not myths or superstitions. The great psychologists of Islam known as the Sufis wrote treatise after treatise that rival the most advanced texts today on human psychology. The great ethicists and exegetes of Islam's past left tomes that fill countless shelves in the great libraries of the world, and many more of their texts remain in manuscript form.
In the foreword of "Being Muslim. A Practical Guide" by Dr. Asad Tarsin. ~ Hamza Yusuf

Know then that the arbitrary appropriation by the government of men's property results in the loss of all incentive to gain, when men realize that what they have accumulated will be taken away firom them. A loss of incentive will lead to a slackening in enterprise, the slackening being proportional to the extent and degree of confiscation. Thus if confiscation is widespread, covering all forms of economic activity, there will be a general slackening, owing to the feeling that no branch offers any longer any hope of gain. If however confiscation be mild, there will be only a relatively slight falling off in economic activity.

Now the state of a society and the prosperity of business depend on the intensity of human efforts and the search for gain; should, therefore, men slacken in their economic activity the markets would slump and the state of society deteriorate. People would forsake that country and migrate elsewhere in search of gain, the result being a general depopulation and the desertion of cities. And this deterioration in society would be followed by a weakening of the State, for the State is as the Form whose condition follows that of its Matter, Society. . .

Oppression ruins society, while the ruin of society leads to the weakening and destruction of the State. ~ Ibn Khaldun

We know that the Zanj (blacks) are the least intelligent and the least discerning of mankind, and the least capable of understanding the consequences of actions. ~ Ibn Khaldun

[T]he purpose of human beings is not only their worldly welfare. This entire world is trifling and futile. It ends in death and annihilation. The purpose of human beings is their religion, which leads them to happiness in the other world. ~ Ibn Khaldun

People are largely ignorant of the interests of the human species. ~ Ibn Khaldun

In the case of all human qualities, the extremes are reprehensible, and the middle road is praiseworthy. ~ Ibn Khaldun

No one can stand up against the authority of truth, and the evil of falsehood is to be fought with enlightening speculation. ~ Ibn Khaldun

Government decisions are as a rule unjust, because pure justice is found only in the legal caliphate that lasted only a short while. ~ Ibn Khaldun

The fifth stage is one of waste and squandering. In this stage, the ruler wastes on pleasures and amusements the treasures accumulated by his ancestors, through excessive generosity to his inner circle. Also, he acquires bad low-class followers to whom he entrusts the most important matters of state, which they are not qualified to handle by themselves, not knowing which of them they should tackle and which they should leave alone. The ruler seeks to destroy the great clients of his people and followers of his predecessors. ( ... )Thus, he ruins the foundations his ancestors had laid and tears down what they had built up. In this stage, the dynasty is seized by senility and the chronic disease from which it can hardly ever rid itself, for which it can find no cure, and eventually it is destroyed. ~ Ibn Khaldun

The easiest method of acquiring the habit of scholarship is through acquiring the ability to express oneself clearly in discussing and disputing scholarly problems. This is what clarifies their import and makes them understandable. Some students spend most of their lives attending scholarly sessions. Still, one finds them silent. They do not talk and do not discuss matters. More than is necessary, they are concerned with memorizing. Thus, they do not obtain much of a habit in the practice of scholarship and scholarly instruction. ~ Ibn Khaldun

At the beginning of a dynasty, taxation yields a large revenue from small assessments. At the end of the dynasty, taxation yields a small revenue from large assessments. ~ Ibn Khaldun

The sciences of only one nation, the Greeks, have come down to us, because they were translated through Al-Ma'mun's efforts. He was successful in this direction because he had many translators at his disposal and spent much money in this connection. ~ Ibn Khaldun

Islam is under obligation to gain power over all nations. ~ Ibn Khaldun

Those who are conquered," wrote the philosopher Ibn Khaldun in the fourteenth century, "always want to imitate the conqueror in his main characteristics - in his clothing, his crafts, and in all his distinctive traits and customs. ~ Adam Hochschild

It is a sad commentary on the state of Muslim scholarship that Ibn Khaldun remained a virtual nonentity until he was discovered by Orientalists. Now that he has their stamp of recognition, many scholars - excepting Arab racialists and the extreme orthodox - have entered into a competition to see whose encomiums are the loudest ~ Pervez Hoodbhoy

If the soul is impartial in receiving information, it devotes to that information the share of critical investigation the information deserves, and its truth or untruth thus becomes clear. However, if the soul is infected with partisanship for a particular opinion or sect, it accepts without a moment's hesitation the information that is agreeable to it. Prejudice and partisanship obscure the critical faculty and preclude critical investigation. The results is that falsehoods are accepted and transmitted. ~ Ibn Khaldun

The past resembles the future more than one drop of water resembles another. ~ Ibn Khaldun

Man is the child of customs, not the child of his ancestors. ~ Ibn Khaldun

Historically the first philosopher to enquire deeply into the nature of corruption in society was Ibn Khaldun (1322-1406), whose wandering life was largely spent in the northern littoral of Africa at a time when kingdoms and sultanates were crumbling. ~ Robert Payne

The Berbers belong to a powerful, formidable, and numerous people; a true people like so many others, the world has seen - like the Arabs, the Persians, the Greeks and the Romans. ~ Ibn Khaldun

Throughout history many nations have suffered a physical defeat, but that has never marked the end of a nation. But when a nation has become the victim of a psychological defeat, then that marks the end of a nation. ~ Ibn Khaldun

Sedentary culture is the goal of civilization. It means the end of its lifespan and brings about its corruption. ~ Ibn Khaldun

When trouble arose between 'All and Mu'awiyah as a necessary consequence of group feeling, they were guided in (their dissensions) by the truth and by independent judgment. They did not fight for any worldly purpose or over preferences of no value, or for reasons of personal enmity. This might be suspected, and heretics might like to think so. However, what caused their difference was their independent judgment as to where the truth lay. It was on this matter that each side opposed the point of view of the other. It was for this that they fought. Even though 'Ali was in the right, Mu'awiyah's intentions were not bad ones. He wanted the truth, but he missed (it). Each was right in so far as his intentions were concerned. ~ Ibn Khaldun

You can't grow up without taking a few knocks on the way. All parents know that, but children when they're growing up, they take some knocks, and nasty knocks sometimes if they've been too protected. ~ Ibn Warraq

Ibn Taymiyyah lived poorly. He was imprisoned and threatened. But I have never seen anyone as happy as him. ~ Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya

Do not praise your own faith exclusively so that you disbelieve all the rest. If you do this you will miss much good. Nay, you will miss the whole truth of the matter. God, the Omniscient and the Omnipresent, cannot be confined to any one creed, for He says in the Quran, wheresoever ye turn, there is the face of Allah. Everybody praises what he knows. His God is his own creature, and in praising it, he praises himself. Which he would not do if he were just, for his dislike is based on ignorance. ~ Ibn Arabi

Two truths cannot contradict one another. ~ Ibn Rushd

Work for a Better Life as if you live forever,
And work for Better End as if you die tomorrow ~ Ali Ibn Abi Talib

Justice is putting everything in its proper place ~ Ali Ibn Abi Talib

If you want to change the world,learn to change yourself first. ~ Hazrat Ali Ibn Abu-Talib R.A

He who does not live in the way of his beliefs starts to believe in the way he lives. ~ Umar Ibn Al-Khattab

I follow the Way of Love,
and where Love's caravan takes its path,
there is my religion, my faith. ~ Ibn Arabi

Do not feel lonely on the road of righteousness Because of the fewness of the walkers on it. ~ Ali Ibn Abi Talib

How often it is that a small action becomes great by its intention. And how often it is that a great action becomes small by its intention. ~ Abdullah Ibn Mubarak

Nothing hurts a good soul and kind heart more than to live amongst people who can't understand it. ~ Ali Ibn Abi Talib

Murderer, monster, madman... Khalid may very well be all of those things. But he's also loved. By me and by my father. But, most of all, by Shazi. With her, he is as fiercely loved as he loves. ~ Renee Ahdieh

And when I was born, I drew in common air, and fell upon the earth, which is of like nature; and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do."

by Solomon Ibn Gabirol ~ Steven J. Jacobson

The Prophet Muhammad (s) said: "Do not turn away a poor man ... even if all you can give is half a date. If you love the poor and bring them near you ... God will bring you near Him on the Day of Resurrection." ~ Muhammad Ibn Isa At-Tirmidhi

The best revenge is to improve yourself. ~ Ali Ibn Abi Talib

He has so many creations, and yet He never forgets me, but I only have One Creator, and I've forgotten him countless times. ~ Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn Nasir As-Sa'di

The value of a person is what he does best. ~ Ali Ibn Abi Talib

Sufism (tasawwuf) is not wearing clothes that you patched; it is not weeping when the singers sing their songs; and it is not dancing, shouting, experiencing ecstatic states, or passing out as if you've gone mad. Rather, Sufism is to become whole without any impurities; to follow the truth, the Qur'an, and this religion; and to be seen in a state of awe, broken and remorseful about all of your sins. ~ Qadi Abu Bakr Ibn Al-Arabi

What man-made machine will ever achieve the complete perfection of even the goose's wing? ~ Abbas Ibn Firnas

Contentment empties the heart of all superfluous carriage, thus leaving it entirely for Allah. ~ Aaidh Ibn Abdullah Al-Qarni

Everyone who is taken by death asks for more time, while everyone who still has time makes excuses for procrastination. ~ Ali Ibn Abi Talib

We liberate our nation's heart inside of Indonesian independence!! Ibn Saud liberated Arabian's heart inside of Saudi Arabian independence one by one!! Stalin liberated Soviet-Russian's heart inside of Soviet one by one!! ~ Sukarno

Muslims have not ever been told to examine their faith in a critical way, so the shock is going to be even greater for them, as it is for any child who lives in an over-protected environment, who suddenly has to go out and earn a living and has to stand up on his own feet. ~ Ibn Warraq

Put your trust in Allah and not in anyone other than Him, because it is known that He alone is the Helper. ~ Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn Nasir As-Sa'di

Here Ibn Hawqal, about 970, found some 300 mosques, and 300 schoolteachers who were highly regarded by the inhabitants "in spite of the fact," says the geographer, "that schoolteachers are notorious for their mental deficiency and light brains. ~ Will Durant

There is none more lonely than the man who loves only himself. ~ Abraham Ibn Ezra

Perfecting one's intellect causes one to speak less, and those words spoken will be adorned with wisdom. ~ Ali Ibn Abi Talib

So long as you are in this world, be not surprised at the existence of sorrows. ~ Ibn Ata Allah

Always consider your intellect to be lacking; otherwise too much faith in it surely leads to error. ~ Ali Ibn Abi Talib

As long as one is following the right way, one should never be concerned about the reproaches of those who like to find faults. ~ Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya

O Malik, people have either a brother of you in the religion, or brother of you in the creation ~ Ali Ibn Abi Talib

Someone who seeks to travel the path of Allah should begin with a sound repentance from all his sins. ~ Abdullah Ibn Alawi Al-Haddad

Let your invocation be the all-embracing Name, which is Allah, Allah, Allah, or if you so wish, Huwa, Huwa, Huwa; and do not violate this remembrance. Be careful lest your tongue pronounce it while other-than-He is in your heart. Let your heart be the one who utters, and your ear the one who is attentive to this invocation until the 'speaker' emanates from your Self (sirr). When you feel the emergence of the Speaker within you through the invocation, do not abandon the spiritual condition wherein you find yourself. ~ Ibn Ata Allah

There are so many highly esteemed ones who became miserable and humiliated just because of their bad temper and morals; and humble people who have attained eminence and the highest honors because of good temper and morals. ~ Ali Ibn Abi Talib

If you are aware of your humility, then you are arrogant. ~ Ibn Ata Allah

Make tawba not just for sins you've committed, but also for obligations you haven't fulfilled. ~ Ibn Taymiyyah

Beware of confining yourself to a particular belief and denying all else, for much good would elude you - indeed, the knowledge of reality would elude you. Be in yourself a matter for all forms of belief, for God is too vast and tremendous to be restricted to one belief rather than another. ~ Ibn Arabi

Ibn Mas'ud said, "When 'Umar died nine-tenth of all knowledge vanished with him." The people were shocked and said, "How can this be when among us now are still many of the great companions?" Ibn Mas'ud replied,"I am not speaking of the knowledge of fiqh and the science of judgements, I'm speaking about the knowledge of Allah." This struggle of isolation, hunger, sleeplessness, weeping, fear and endless service to men was for this end. The journey is only for knowledge of Allah and the whole of it lies in detachment from everything that passes away. First from what is displeasing to Allah, then from one's self-illusion and desires, and then from all men and all otherness until there is only isolation and extreme nearness to Allah. ~ Khalid Muhammad Khalid

Happiness comes towards those which believe in him ~ Ali Ibn Abi Talib

A man's behavior is the index of the man, and his discourse is the index of his understanding. ~ Ali Ibn Abi Talib

I always have tendency to form very strong local attachments, so I was very keen to find out about the school I was going to, its history, and the countryside. I was acquiring a kind of English character if you like, Englishness about things and my attitudes. ~ Ibn Warraq

Ibn al-Khatib says: Ibn Battutah has a modest share of the sciences. He journeyed to the East in the month of Rajab 725 [1325], travelled through its lands, penetrated into Iraq al-Ajam, then entered India, Sind and China, and returned through Yemen. In India, the king appointed him to the office of qadi. He came away later and returned to the Maghrib [ ... ]. Our Shaykh Abu l-Barakat Ibn al-Balfiqi told us of many strange things which Ibn Battutah had seen. Among them was that he claimed to have entered Constantinople and to have seen in its church twelve thousands bishops. He subsequently crossed the Strait to the Spanish coast [ ... ]. Thereafter the ruler of Fez summoned him and commanded him to commit his travels to writing. ~ Tim Mackintosh-Smith

He who practices Tasawwuf without learning Sacred Law corrupts his faith, while he who learns Sacred Law without practicing Tasawwuf corrupts himself.
Only he who combines the two proves true. ~ Malik Ibn Anas

Drink poison rather than worry. ~ Solomon Ibn Gabirol

Ibn Taymiyyah was a worrying figure to the establishment. His return to the fundamentals of the Quran and sunnah and his denial of much of the rich spirituality and philosophy of Islam may have been reactionary, but it was also revolutionary. He outraged the conservative ulama, who clung to the textbook answers, and criticized the Mamluk government of Syria for practices which contravened Islamic law as he understood it. ~ Karen Armstrong

I love the saliheen (pious people) even though I'm not one of them, and I hate the taliheen (evil people) even though I (may be) worse than them. ~ Abdullah Ibn Mubarak

How foolish is man! He ruins the present while worrying about the future, but weeps in the future by recalling his past! ~ Ali Ibn Abi Talib

Cemetery of al-Baqi in Medina, they utterly destroyed the tombs of the Imams Hasan, Ali ibn Husayn, Muhammed ibn Ali, and Jafar, as well as the tomb of Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad. In Mecca, they destroyed the Cemetery of Mualla, where the ancestors of Muhammad and his first wife Khadija were buried. These prominent destructions were part of a pattern of violence that witnessed the Wahhabi Saudis smash buildings, tombs and mosques associated with the history of the Prophet and his family and which were venerated by Shia. ~ Jesse Harasta