The Mechanism of Decision Making in The Abbasid Palace

Abstract

Consultation (Shura) is considered one of the most prominent foundations of governance in Islam, as it contributes to decision-making in various aspects of life. It is a characteristic that distinguishes the system of governance from other systems due to its association with the concept and reality of faith. Therefore, the work of the Abbasid Caliphate was marked by the presence of collective and individual councils that provided consultation to the Abbasid Caliphs regarding the state's policy and approach, supporting its stability and progress.

The research aims to highlight the mechanism of political decision-making in the Abbasid court, which took the form of collective and individual councils that included jurists, scholars, writers, and statesmen such as ministers, military leaders, governors, princes of the Abbasid house, and close associates of the Caliph, to provide opinions and solutions in the form of advice and guidance to reach political decisions that serve the state and achieve its stability.

The research has been divided into the definition of consultation (Shura) linguistically and terminologically, and two axes that include the following:

·         The first axis: Collective consultation councils.

·         The second axis: Individual consultation councils.

The conclusion contains the most important findings of the research.