The Evolution of the Term Sulṭān in Early Islam
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: This article discusses the use of the word sulṭān in Arabic political and historical discourse in the period before the term is regularly used as a title of rulership attached to an individual in the middle of the fifth/eleventh century. It describes four phases, sulṭān as abstract authority, sulṭān as state or administration, sulṭān as an informal descriptor of a powerful individual and sulṭān as a formal title used on coins. It argues that the changing uses are related to the changing nature of power and authority in the Muslim community.
Source: Journal of Abbasid Studies
Author: Hugh Kennedy
Institutions: SOAS University of London, University College London
Language: English
Topic: Islamic Studies and History
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4403789568