From: hermi@function.mps.ohio-state.edu (Lotfi Hermi)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.arabic,soc.culture.turkish,soc.culture.iranian
Subject: The vanquished always want to imitate the victor (Ibn Khaldun)
Date: 22 Dec 92 16:33:00 GMT
Organization: Department of Mathematics, The Ohio State University
NNTP-Posting-Host: function.mps.ohio-state.edu

[22 ] The vanquished always want to imitate the victor
in his distinctive mark(s), his dress, his occupa-
tion, and all his other conditions and customs.

The (133) reason for this is that the soul always sees per-
fection in the person who is superior to it and to whom it is
subservient. It considers him perfect, either because the
respect it has for him impresses it, or because it erroneously
assumes that its own subservience to him is not due to the
nature of defeat but to the perfection of the victor. If that
erroneous assumption fixes itself in the soul, it becomes a
firm belief. The soul, then, adopts all the manners of the
victor and assimilates itself to him. This, then, is imitation.

Or, the soul may possibly think that the superiority of
the victor is not the result of his group feeling or great
fortitude, but of his customs and manners. This also would
be an erroneous concept of superiority, and (the consequence)
would be the same as in the former case.

Therefore, the vanquished can always be observed to
assimilate themselves to the victor in the use and style of
dress, mounts, and weapons, indeed, in everything.

In this connection, one may compare how children con-
stantly imitate their fathers. They do that only because they
see perfection in them. One may also compare how almost
every where people are dominated (in the matter of fashion)
by the dress of the militia and the government forces, because
they are ruled by them.

This goes so far that a nation dominated by another,
neighboring nation will show a great deal of assimilation and
imitation. At this time, this is the case in Spain. The Span-
iards are found to assimilate themselves to the Galician na-
tions in their dress, their emblems, and most of their customs
and conditions. This goes so far that they even draw pictures
on the walls and (have them) in buildings and houses. The
intelligent observer will draw from this the conclusion that
it is a sign of domination ( by others). God has the power to
command (134) [ Quran 13.31 (30); 30.4 (3); 82.19 (19)]

In this light, one should understand the secret of the
saying, "The common people follow the religion of the
ruler." (135) (This saying) belongs to the subject under dis-
cussion. The ruler dominates those under him. His subjects
imitate him, because they see perfection in him, exactly as
children imitate their parents, or students their teachers.
God is wise and knowing.


'Abd-al-Malik ( ibn Marwan) asked one Arab who had come to him on
an embassy about al-Hajjaj. He wanted him to praise al-Hajjaj for 
his good political leadership (for the benefit of) civilization. 
But the Arab said: "When I left him, he was acting unjustly all 
by himself."  He was preventing the Arabs from practicing their 
cheriched lawlessness, and he alone was responsible for the 
oppressive rule of law. A closely related story is found in 
Ibn 'Abd Rabih, al-'Iqd (al-farid), II, p77.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.arabic