An essay on İkhwan al-Safa's epistle of politics

This thesis examines Ikhwan al-Safa?s (Bethern of Purity) view of politics and its place in the history of the tradition of politics in Islamic pilosophy. For this purpose the study examines first the political and cultural structure of the tenth century; translation movement and its influence on scientific development of the period. Again other philosophical ovement are examined as a background for understanding Ikhwan?s philosoph.Before coming to their view of politics, the study examines the nature of this secret group on the basis of their Treatises.The relations that are establised by other philosophers of this perion among God, world, man and knowledge are establised by Ikhwan on the basis of nambers. Ikhwan explain the analogies that are established between man and world on the basis of numbers as they explain the emanation of the world from God on the basis of emanation of all other munbers from one. For this reason, mathematics is the gateway to the metaphysical knowledge. Their understanding of philosophy is explained on the basis of this classification of sciences. They put politics under metaphysics which is the highest science for them. This indicates the importance of politics in their classification.Althouth with their cinque classification of politics they differ from other philosophers, Ikhwans? political views are not taken into serious consideration within Islamic political philosophy. This study takes their treatise which specifically deals with politics. On the basis of this treatise, it examines mainly the governance of body and soul. Under these main titles it examines man?s relation with God, himself, his family and his friends. The study concludes that Ikhwan consider every activity that has any contribution to man?s happiness within the concept of politics.