L'altro Ibn Khaldūn : il sufismo come problema politico

The article examinesIbn Khaldūn's views on Sufism through his work Shifā' al-­sā'il li-­tahdīb al-­masā'il. Itargues that Ibn Khaldūn's engagement with Sufism was primarily driven by politicalconcerns, focusing on the potential impacts of extreme religious practices on indivi-­duals and society. It also highlights Ibn Khaldūn's cautious approach to Sufism, advo-­cating the need for a master to guide Sufi practitioners and discouraging excessive my-­stical practices. This stance reflects his broader ethical and normative perspectives,consistent with those in his renowned Muqaddimah. The Author underscores the cohe-­rence between Ibn Khaldūn's ethical views and his political philosophy, which empha-­sizes the importance of avoiding behaviour that could pose a threat to political stabi-­lity.

The conclusion states that while Ibn Khaldūn acknowledges the legality of theSufi path under certain conditions, he is wary of its potential to undermine societal or-­der through the promotion of unregulated mystical practices and the autonomous inter-­pretation of divine messages. [Publisher's text]