The Sultan of Science: Reflection of the Relationship between the Promotion of Science and the Legitimacy of Rulers in Persian Admonition Literature from the Islamic Era to the 7th Century AH

The article proposes a transpersonal explanatory approach to explore the relationship between Muslim rulers and scholars of natural sciences in Islamic centuries in Iran. It emphasizes that legitimacy plays a central role in this relationship. This legitimacy serves as a structural framework for explaining the supportive relationship between rulers and scholars of non-religious sciences.   An analysis of the admonition literature from the Islamic era until the Mongol invasion reveals that the acquisition of knowledge, the support of scientists, and the promotion of science were considered essential moral virtues for those in power. These virtues were rooted in the Islamic worldview, where truth, ability, and knowledge were deeply intertwined. As a result, learning and supporting science not only became a moral obligation but also helped elevate the social and political standing of both scholars and rulers.   Thus, in Islamic political ethics, supporting science was seen as a virtue that strengthened the legitimacy of rulers, both among elites and the general populace. Muslim rulers supported the natural sciences and their scholars, viewing them as "beneficial and noble," sometimes in competition with religious (Sharia) sciences. This relationship between science and political legitimacy played a key role in shaping the cultural and intellectual landscape of the time.