Hierarchy and Egalitarianism in Islamic Thought

by Louise Marlow

• ISBN13: 9780521894289
• ISBN10: 052189428X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-05-16
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

By examining a wide range of Arabic and Persian literature from the eighth to the thirteenth century, Louise Marlow shows the tension that existed between the traditional egalitarian ideal of early Islam, and the hierarchical impulses of the classical period. The literature demonstrates that while Islam's initial orientation was markedly egalitarian, the social aspect of this egalitarianism was soon undermined in the aftermath of Islam's political success, and as hierarchical social ideas from older cultures in the Middle East were incorporated into the new polity. Although the memory of its early promise never entirely receded, social egalitarianism quickly came to be associated with political subversion. On account of its originality and chronological scope, Louise Marlow's book will be of use to a wide readership of Islamic historians and of scholars assessing the impact of the modern Islamic revival.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Note on transliteration	xiv
List of abbreviations	xv
Introduction	1	(12)
Part I Sources for Islamic social ideals
Egalitarianism and the growth of a pious opposition	13	(29)
The Muslim reception of Greek ideas	42	(24)
The Muslim reception of Iranian models	66	(27)
Part II The taming of Islamic egalitarianism
The dissociation of egalitarianism and opposition	93	(24)
The didactic literature of the courts	117	(26)
Rationalisations of inequalities	143	(13)
Hierarchies of occupations	156	(18)
Conclusion	174	(4)
Bibliography	178	(17)
Index to Qur'anic verses	195	(1)
General index	196