Al-Mawardi Quotes
Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad al-Mawardi was an Arab Islamic jurist of the Shafi'i school and the principal classical theorist of Sunni political thought. Born in Basra and trained at Baghdad, he served as chief qadi of several Iraqi towns and as a high diplomatic envoy of the Abbasid caliph to the Buyid sultans. The quotes below are attributed to Al-Mawardi, organized by topic.
Browse Al-Mawardi by topic
Al-Mawardi on Death
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“This wrong was by my father done To me, but ne’er by me to one. As quoted in Three Great Abbasid Poets: Abu Nuwas, Al-Mutanabbi & Al-Ma'arri, Lives & Poems (2015) by Paul Smith, with the following explanation: "Abu 'l-'Alá regarded procreation as a sin and universal annihilation as the best hope for humanity. He acted in accordance with his opinions, for he never married, and he is said to have desired that the following verse should be inscribed on his grave".”
هذا جَنَاهُ أَبي عَلَيَّ وما جَنَيْتُ عَلَى أَحَدْ
Al-Mawardi on God
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Attributed to Al-Mawardi:
“Religion and government are twins; one preserves what the other establishes.”
Al-Mawardi on Justice
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Attributed to Al-Mawardi:
“Justice in rule is more precious than gold in trade.”
Al-Mawardi on Knowledge
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“هذا جَنَاهُ أَبي عَلَيَّ وما جَنَيْتُ عَلَى أَحَدْ”
This wrong was by my father done To me, but ne’er by me to one. As quoted in Three Great Abbasid Poets: Abu Nuwas, Al-Mutanabbi & Al-Ma'arri, Lives & Poems (2015) by Paul Smith, with the following explanation: "Abu 'l-'Alá regarded procreation as a sin and universal annihilation as the best hope for humanity. He acted in accordance with his opinions, for he never married, and he is said to have de -
“Alternate Translation of Kevin Blankinship : This is my father’s crime against me, which I myself committed against none.”
هذا جَنَاهُ أَبي عَلَيَّ وما جَنَيْتُ عَلَى أَحَدْ -
“Risalat al-Ghufran (The Epistle of Forgiveness) [ 1 ]”
Sometimes you may find a man skillful in his trade, perfect in sagacity and in the use of arguments, but when he comes to religion he is found obstinate, so does he follow in the old groove. Piety is implanted into human nature; it is deemed a sure refuge. To the growing child, that which falls from his mother's lips is a lesson that abides with him all his life. Monks in their cloisters and devot -
“Spoken by poet Aws ibn Hajar in Risalat al-Ghufran . [ 2 ]”
Some worse people than I have entered Paradise! But it is not everybody’s fortune to be granted forgiveness, it is like wealth in the Fleeting World.
Al-Mawardi on Life
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“Whenever I reflect, my reflecting upon what I suffer only rouses me to blame him that begot me. And I gave peace to my children, for they are in the bliss of non-existence which surpasses all the pleasures of this world. Had they come to life, they would have endured a misery casting them to destruction in trackless wildernesses.”
As quoted in Studies in Islamic Poetry (1921) by Reynold A. Nicholson
Al-Mawardi on Mind
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“Men of acute mind call me an ascetic , but they are wrong in their diagnosis. Although I disciplined my desires, I only abandoned worldly pleasures because the best of these withdrew themselves from me.”
As quoted in Studies in Islamic Poetry (1921) by Reynold A. Nicholson
Al-Mawardi on Nature
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“Some worse people than I have entered Paradise! But it is not everybody’s fortune to be granted forgiveness, it is like wealth in the Fleeting World.”
Spoken by poet Aws ibn Hajar in Risalat al-Ghufran . [ 2 ]
Al-Mawardi on Politics
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Attributed to Al-Mawardi:
“The caliph holds his office in trust for the community of believers.”
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Attributed to Al-Mawardi:
“The good ruler hears every voice but is moved only by truth.”
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Attributed to Al-Mawardi:
“He who rules without justice is not a ruler but an oppressor.”