Political Thought in the Mamluk Period: The Unnecessary Caliphate

Abstract

testimony to the fact that English translations of Islamic sources do not have to result in awkward, archaic or difficult English. Rustom’s insightful introduction is also helpful in contextualizing the book’s major themes and, given his ongoing research on the thought of ʿAyn al-Quḍāt, readers can expect to learn even more about ʿAyn al-Quḍāt’s ideas and their afterlives. Among such issues is the possible influence of Ismaili ideas on his thought, which was used to justify his murder, or the possible influence of ʿAyn al-Quḍāt on Persian Muslim thinkers such as ʿAzīz al-Dīn Nasafī (d. thirteenth century), who curiously composed a book bearing a similar title, Zubdat al-ḥaqāʾiq. Nasafī was also quite familiar with ʿAyn al-Quḍāt, whom he called in admiration the sultan of lovers (sultạ̄n al-ʿushshāq). Learning more about such connections can further shed light on the significance of ʿAyn al-Quḍāt in Islamic intellectual history. One thing that can perhaps be taken care of in future editions is the relatively small English font used, which slightly challenges the eye. All in all, however, Rustom’s new book is a masterful translation, superb critical edition and comprehensive guide to the thought of one of the most prominent Muslim thinkers whose ideas are still fairly unknown in the literature.