"Siraj al-Muluk" (سراج الملوك - The Lantern of Kings) by the famous Andalusian Maliki jurist and ascetic, Imam Abu Bakr al-Turtushi (d. 520 AH / 1126 CE), is one of the most celebrated classical Islamic treatises on political ethics, statecraft, and governance.
Siraj al-Muluk is a classic work of Islamic political thought in the "Mirrors for Princes" tradition. Written by Imam al-Turtushi during a period of political turmoil, it offers practical guidance on righteous leadership, justice, governance, consultation (shura), public finance, military affairs, and the selection of trustworthy officials. Across 64 chapters, the author enriches his counsel with Quranic verses, Prophetic hadiths, sayings of the Companions and early scholars, historical accounts from Islamic and world civilizations, and eloquent poetry, presenting a timeless manual for ethical leadership rooted in Islamic principles.
The Author
Imam Abu Bakr al-Turtushi (also known as Ibn Abi Randaqah) was a highly respected Maliki jurist, traditionist, and ascetic from Tortosa (Turtusha) in Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain). He traveled extensively across the Islamic world, studying in North Africa, Egypt, Baghdad, and Damascus, before settling in Alexandria, Egypt, where he passed away. He was known for his strict adherence to the Sunnah, his courage in advising rulers, and his profound piety.
Features of the Dar al-Minhaj (Jeddah) Edition
The Dar al-Minhaj edition of Siraj al-Muluk stands out for its exceptional scholarly and production quality. Carefully verified against multiple early manuscripts, it restores the text with a high degree of accuracy while providing hadith verification, explanatory footnotes for difficult terms and historical references, and comprehensive indexes of Quranic verses, hadiths, poetry, names, places, and subjects. Printed on premium cream paper with elegant typography and a durable binding, it is an outstanding edition for both serious students and researchers.
Books
- Arabic