Abbasid Maẓālim between Theory and Practice

Abstract

There is Ḏo doubt that ḍaḎy subjects of the Abbasid eḍpire sufered froḍ abuse by oicials oḎ a regular basis. HoweverĪ they could ile petitioḎsĪ coḍplaiḎiḎg about the ḍisbehaviour of oicials aḎd the iḎjustices caused by their actioḎs through aḎ iḎstitutioḎ which is geḎerallyĪ but iḎcoḎsisteḎtlyĪ referred to as ma ālim. This article will argue that iḎ the Abbasid periodĪ the fuḎctioḎiḎg of ma ālim was ḍuch less well deiḎed aḎd probably also less well orgaḎized thaḎ later theorists such as alīMāward claiḍed it to be. Most iḍportaḎtlyĪ it lacked a clear deiḎitioḎ of its jurisdictioḎ. IḎ practice it coḎsisted of a process of heariḎg aḎd respoḎdiḎg by represeḎtatives of the state to coḍplaiḎts aḎd requests iled by subjects of the state. As suchĪ it Ḏot oḎly served the aggrieved subjectĪ but also provided the authorities with aḎ iḎstruḍeḎt through which they could coḎtrol aḎd regulate their owḎ oicials.