al-Durra al-Gharra fi Nasiha al-Salatin wa al-Qudat wa al-Umara
- Author died
- 843 AH
- Editions
- Maktabat Nizār Muṣṭafá al-Bāz
al-Durra al-Gharra fi Nasiha al-Salatin wa al-Qudat wa al-Umara (The Radiant Pearl on Advising Sultans, Judges, and Emirs) is a 9th-century AH work on Islamic governance, public administration, and jurisprudence written by Mahmud ibn Isma'il al-Khayrbayti (d. after 843 AH / 1440 CE) .
Composition and Context
The author, Mahmud ibn Isma'il ibn Ibrahim al-Khayrbayti, composed the work for the library of the Mamluk ruler of Egypt, Sultan al-Zahir Jaqmaq (reigned 841–857 AH / 1438–1453 CE) . Al-Khayrbayti stated that meeting rulers, commanders, viziers, and soldiers was a commendable practice in Islamic law, and he compiled the text to systematically lay down the rules governing sovereigns, judges, commanders, viziers, and governors, alongside solutions to practical legal dilemmas and complex issues needed by the populace .
The author completed the book at the beginning of Dhu al-Qa'da 843 AH (April 1440 CE) ; another report gives its completion on the first day of Dhu al-Hijja 843 AH . In certain biographical and bibliographical entries, the author is also recorded with the nisbas al-Jizi or al-Khayrmiti, and the title appears with slight variations, such as al-Durra al-Gharra fi Nasihat al-Muluk wa-al-Wuzara' or ... wa-al-Qudat wa-al-Wuzara' .
Structure and Contents
Al-Khayrbayti structured the book into ten comprehensive chapters :
- The Imamate (al-Imama)
- The conditions of the Imamate (Shurut al-imama)
- The legal status and authority of the Imam (Hukm al-imam)
- The principles and circumstances of the Imamate (Qawa'id al-imama wa-ahwaluha)
- The ministry (al-Wizara)
- Rules governing the military forces (Qawa'id al-ajnad)
- Legal questions pertaining to emirs and sultans (al-Masa'il al-shar'iyya al-muta'alliqa bi-al-umara' wa-al-salatin)
- Legal stratagems (al-Hiyal al-shar'iyya)
- Guidance for the respondent in legal inquiries (Tanbih al-mujib fi al-masa'il al-shar'iyya)
- Miscellaneous legal issues (al-Masa'il al-mutafarriqa)
Translations
The book was translated into Ottoman Turkish by the Ottoman scholar and official Muhammad Bek ibn Firuz Agha al-Istanbuli (d. 1018 AH / 1609 CE) under the title al-Ghurra al-Bayda' (الغرة البيضاء في ترجمة الدرة الغراء في نصائح الملوك والقضاة والوزراء) . He reorganized the material into seven chapters and dedicated the translation to the Ottoman sultan Selim II .
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