Comparative Study of Governance Philosophy from the Perspectives of Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali and Abū l-Walīd Muḥammad Ibn ʾAḥmad Ibn Rušd (Averroes)

The aim of the present research is to examine the theories of Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali and Abū l-Walīd Muḥammad Ibn ʾAḥmad Ibn Rušd (Averroes), regarding governance philosophy. The research is based on the hypothesis that the similarities in the views of these two thinkers regarding the acceptance of authoritative government, the experience of turbulent times, and the differences in attitude towards people's political rights and the religious or customary formation of the political system. This study examined the areas and aspects of the relationship between government, politics, intellectual context, religion, politics, and people's political rights (the role of people in government) from these two philosophers' perspectives. The research method is descriptive-analytical, and the results indicate that both thinkers established their theory of governance based on the nature and disposition of humans. Al-Ghazali, considering the fourfold characteristics of humans, seeks to cultivate a divine human who engages in political action under the rule of divine governance. In contrast, despite the few political views of Ibn Rušd and his explanations based on the works of Plato and Aristotle, his thought is devoted to the establishment of a virtuous city based on virtuous actions; he defines politics as the administration of the souls of the citizens of the virtuous city to achieve their goals. The perspectives of the two philosophers on governance and politics have similarities in experiencing turbulent times, pessimism about human nature, belief in authoritative government, and differences in people's political rights, the formation of government based on customary needs (an introduction to secularism), and the relationship between religion and politics.