Utopia in Avicenna’s and Ibn Khaldun’s socio political point of view; A comparative study based on Spriggans’ model

This article aims to analyze Utopia from Avicenna and Ibn Khaldun’s socio political point of view based on Spriggans’ model. Therefore, the research question is: How did Avicenna and Ibn Khaldun think about the idea of Utopia and what ideal solution did they propose to get rid of its crises? Using the descriptive analytical method, as well as library resources, the researcher found out that in an effort to create a link between politics and prophecy, Avicenna considered the crisis to be a lack of centralized national power, which in turn led to a lack of prophetic policy and proper implementation of sharia laws. Proposing the Utopia, he considered a prophetic political law as the best system, in which the prophet or his successor is at the forefront. His Utopia includes reconciliation of religion and philosophy, linking politics with sharia, and maintaining the unity of the Muslim community through the philosopher prophet concentrated power. In fact, proposing of Utopia from the socio political perspective was based on the divine nature of man and the maximum role of government in the felicity and salvation of citizens in this world and hereafter. However, in Ibn Khaldun’s point of view, formation and expansion of powerful and vast governments are related to origin of religious principles and the role of religion in the lifespan of the states. He considers the state a fluid and declining phenomenon that, like humans, has a natural lifespan from its emergence to its decadence. Given that, in addition to tribal solidarity (Asabiyyah), religious solidarity can strengthen governments.