07/22/2024
Ibn Khaldun... Were you spying on the future 700 years ago?
From the masterpieces of Ibn Khaldun, pioneer of Arab sociology, who wrote in his famous Muqaddimah in the 14th century CE:
"When taxes increase, the state approaches its end."
When states collapse:
- Astrologers, beggars, hypocrites, and pretenders proliferate
- Scribes, storytellers, discordant singers, and versifiers multiply
- Vagabonds, fortune-tellers, drum-beaters, and pseudo-intellectuals abound
- Palm readers, astrologists, politicians, flatterers, slanderers, opportunists emerge
- Masks fall off, and incompatible things mix
- Appreciation is lost, and management deteriorates
- Meanings and words become confused, truth mixes with falsehood
When states collapse:
- Terror prevails, people seek refuge in sects
- Wonders appear, rumors spread
- Friends become enemies, enemies become friends
- Falsehood's voice rises, truth's voice falters
- Suspicious faces surface, familiar faces disappear
- Dreams become scarce, hope dies
- The wise become alienated, facial features blur
- Tribal loyalty intensifies, patriotism becomes delusional
- Wise voices are drowned by orators' clamor
- Family members accuse each other of treason
- Rumors of great escapes circulate
- Plots and conspiracies are woven
- Advice comes from all directions
- Initiatives are proposed from near and far
- The capable plan their departure, the wealthy secure their fortunes
- Everyone is on alert and waiting
- The homeland becomes a transit station
- Our dwellings turn into luggage
- Houses become memories, and memories become tales
May Allah have mercy on you, Ibn Khaldun.
بقلم (المؤلف) سعيد محمود عقيل
