Introduction What is Islamic political thought?SourcesReading Ayyubid and Mamluk political thoughtThemes, concerns and idealsChapters outline 1. Reading Islamic political thought The longue duréeImposed paradigms i) Theory of the caliphate ii) The fall of BaghdadThe mythology of genreAvailability of textsContextualising political thoughtIntellectual, social and cultural contextPolitical languages, conventions and discourses 2. Ibn Jamaa's synthesis and praxis of Shafii political thought Ibn Jamaa: a biography The Political Thought of Ibn JamaaBeginnings: the MustanadCrystallisation: the MukhtasarSynthesis: the TahrirThe praxis of Ibn Jamaa's political thoughtConclusion 3. Sufi political thought The Sufis and the production of political thoughtSufism and politicsMisbah al-hidaya: Sufi political thoughtCoercive authority by right of necessityEthics, mysticism and the rule of law i) Ethics and practical philosophy ii) Restraint of the ruler's powerThe Sufi theory of delegationThe primacy of Sufi counselConclusion 4. The late Ayyubid and early Mamluk context: Ibn Talha and al-Qarafi Ibn Talha: taming sultanic powerIbn Talha: life and workThe blending of genresModeration of power by ethicsCoercive power: legitimacy, necessity and justiceAdministration, delegation and the shariaA genealogical missing link?Al-Qarafi: the granularisation of the Prophet's authorities 5. Mamluk historiography as a form of political thought Al-Subki's biography of Ibn Abd al-SalamThe politics of al-Subki's historiographyA Shafii Lieu de M é moire?Politics and madhhabsConventions preservedThe contours of Shafii political thought i) De-legitimation of sultan al-Salih Ismail ii) Moderating rulers: the reign of al-Salih Ayyub iii) Caliph, sultan, amirs and ulama iv) Defending the populace v) Baybars: Legitimation and tensionShafii political thought in a later Subki workConclusion Bibliography Primary sourcesSecondary sources.