Ibn Khaldun

How strong is your foundation? There are numerous forms of assabiyyah based on ethic descent,regionalism,racism and tribalism.Islam preaches against the limitations assabiyyah places on the growth and perpetuation of knowledge. However, assabiyyah remains a powerful, cultural influence. Khaldun, warns against assabiyyah. He writes that “partisanship toward a creed or opinion,” the very foundation of the principle of assabiyyah, by its nature, is “liable to error.” As such,some in the Muslim world view engagement with other nations and other peoples around the globe as impractical and unfruitful, thus excluding the possibility of learning from outside one’s tribe, clan, region, religion or nation. Khaldun, a man of science, logic and reason, warns against assabiyyah in the Muqqadimeh when this philosopher writes that “partisanship toward a creed or opinion,” the very foundation of the principle of assabiyyah, by its nature, is “liable to error.” In simpler terms, if you only believe what your clan, tribe or nation believes, by default you view other opinions as inferior to your own and for that reason you shut out what is best in others. Ibn Khaldun recognizes the self-limiting aspect of assabiyyah in a variety of ways. He writes of “partisanship of creed,” over-confidence in sources of information and ignorance derived from the desire to gain favor of those in higher positions. The truth, if principles of assabiyyah are believed, will only be found within one’s own group, one’s own tribe, clan or nation.  www.digitaldaya.com