The Shafei jurisprudent, al-Mawardi

Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On 30th of the Islamic month of Rabi al-Awwal in 450 AH, the Shafei jurisprudent, Abu'l-Hassan Ali Ibn Mohammad Ibn Habib al-Mawardi, passed away at the age of 88. Born in Basra and son of a seller of rose-water or Ma' Ward in Arabic, his family became known as "Mawardi".
Appointed as the chief judge of several districts near Naishapour in Khorasan, and Baghdad itself, he also served as a diplomat for the Abbasid usurper caliphs, al-Qa'em and al-Qader, in negotiations with the Buwaiyhid Iranian emirs, who had taken control of Iran and Iraq. A prolific writer with Mu'tazalite (rationalistic) tendencies, he is best known for his writings on government, on public duties and on constitutional law during a time of political turmoil.
Among his books is "al-Ahkaam as-Sultaniyya wa'l-Wilayat ad-Diniyya" (Ordinances of Government), which provides a detailed definition of the functions of government, under the caliphate, which theoretically was an entire politico-religious system, but practically has lost its meaning and purpose because of the tyrannical and immoral life of almost all the caliphs. Hence the emphasis in [The Ordinances] placed on the qualifications, power and duties pertinent to senior officials, in order to facilitate the working arrangement reached by the Buwaiyhids and the Abbasid caliphs, and later followed by the Seljuqs.