الخليفة و المنجم : سياسة التنجيم الحكمي في بدايات العصر العباسي-الخليفة المنصور و تحفيز ثقافة التنبؤات

Abstract EN

Obsessed with the notion of ‘legitimacy of rulership,’ the early Abbasid caliphs employed all possible techniques (these ranged from the sophisticated (sacred) to the trivial (profane)) to convince their subjects of their status as ‘rightful caliphs.’ To fulfill their political ambitions, the top priority of this double-faceted convincing strategy was (1) the manipulation of Qur’anic verses along with the Prophetic Hadiths; and (2) the application of various branches of divination (the occult, the esoteric, and the metaphysic).

Astrology, in particular, with its reputation for age-old wisdom, was reintroduced for the purpose of establishing certain ruling characteristics contributed to the idea of ‘ideal caliphate.’ I am arguing that the Abbasid imperial ideology allowed astrology to operate freely and participate openly in court activities to satisfy political agenda; astrology was considered by the early Abbasid caliphs as being an indispensable tool for affirming the comprehensive authority of their rulership.

The Abbasids’ motive behind these political policies was to reflect certain aspects of their rulership fundamental to the notions of a legitimate, absolute, and everlasting ruling-dynasty.

This cloaked their political agenda in guise of the claim of accomplishing a noble mission.