THE ABBASID RULE IN BAGHDAD AND THE ISLAMIC GOVERNANCE CONCEPT ACCORDING TO AL-MAWARDI: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Islamic governance, grounded in the principles of the al-Quran and al-Sunnah, has been consistently proven to be relevant and effective in shaping the development and sustainability of Islamic civilisation throughout the ages, including during the Abbasid era. Al-Mawardis political philosophy, as articulated in his seminal literary work entitled al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah wa al-Wilayat al-Diniyyah, laid out a systematic and structured Islamic governance framework in the context of state administration. Under contemporary circumstances, where Islamic governance faces emerging challenges and evolving demands, policies and procedures rooted in Islamic principles must be prioritised by leaders who are trustees appointed by Allah SWT and bear the responsibility of managing the Muslim communitys affairs with integrity, sincerity and accountability. This study aimed to explore the historical development of the Abbasid Caliphates governance system and examine al-Mawardis vision of governance as presented in his writings. This qualitative study analysed existing literature to understand how al-Mawardi interpreted and addressed the political authority of the Abbasid Caliphate. Findings indicate that the governance principles advocated by al Mawardi played a crucial role in strengthening the caliphs authority, even in the face of external pressure and interference. This study concluded that al-Mawardis governance model should be revisited and thoughtfully adapted in the modern context to enhance the effectiveness and resilience of contemporary Islamic administrative systems.