Turki Al Rasheed’s Post

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Author of Agricultural Development Strategies: The Saudi Experience

Ibn Khaldun's Prophetic Insights into Societal Decline: A Glimpse into the Future 700 Years Ago Ibn Khaldun, the renowned Arab historian, possessed a remarkable foresight that spanned over 700 years into the future. In his renowned introduction, penned during the fourteenth century AD, he astutely observed the signs of societal decline and impending collapse. According to Ibn Khaldun, the proliferation of collections and accumulations is a harbinger of a state's demise. Simultaneously, as states crumble, certain elements begin to thrive. Astrologers, beggars, hypocrites, pretenders, scribes, and gossips multiply, as do the cacophonous singers, the boisterous individuals, the handkerchief beaters, the drummers, and the self-proclaimed jurists. Palm readers, fortune tellers, and those who claim to possess supernatural abilities gain prominence. Furthermore, politicians, flatterers, satirists, wanderers, and opportunists reveal their true nature, shedding their masks. In this state of societal disarray, the lines between what is genuine and what is counterfeit become blurred. Appreciation wanes, and effective governance becomes scarce. Meanings and words intertwine, while honesty becomes entangled with lies. The concept of jihad transforms into a justification for senseless violence. As states crumble, terror permeates, and people seek solace within sects. Miraculous occurrences abound, and rumors spread like wildfire. Friendships turn into enmities, and enemies unexpectedly become allies. The clamor of falsehood drowns out the voice of truth. Suspicion-laden countenances emerge, while amiable faces retreat. Dreams dissipate, and hope withers away. Alienation of the mind intensifies, and the distinct features of faces become indistinguishable. Tribal allegiance becomes more tightly intertwined, overshadowing loyalty to one's homeland, which becomes a form of delusion. Amidst the cacophony of preachers, the wisdom of the wise is lost. The notion of belonging is manipulated and exploited. Nationalism, patriotism, religious beliefs, and their origins are subjected to scrutiny and doubt. Even within the same household, accusations of collusion and treason are flung around. Rumors circulate about a grand escape, while plots and conspiracies are hatched in secrecy. Advice pours in from all corners, and initiatives are proposed from far and wide. The powerful contemplate their departure, and the affluent contemplate their wealth. Everyone becomes vigilant, anxiously awaiting the unfolding events. The situation transforms into a landscape of migration projects, and the concept of homeland morphs into a transient station. The pastures we once called home are reduced to mere memories, and those memories slowly fade into stories of the past. Ibn Khaldun, born on May 27, 1332, in Tunis, Tunisia, and who passed away on March 17, 1406, in Cairo, Egypt, was a towering figure in Arab history. His magnum opus, the Muqaddimah ("Introduction"),

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Daanish Faruqi, Ph.D.

International Research and Knowledge Management Professional | Refugee and Crisis Specialist | Migration and Mobility Scholar-Practitioner | Fragility and Conflict-Affected Regions | Ethnographer

7mo

I have an article forthcoming in New Lines Magazine, on the legacy of Ibn Khaldun. Specifically, on his theory of Al-‘asabiyya and its use by modern Arab activists. Happy to share if you’re interested.

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