Abu Zaid Abdur Rahman Ibn Muhammad Ibn e Khaldun (1332 - 1406) was a Muslim Historian, Sociologist and Jurist, mostly known for his term Asabiyya written in his book "Muqaddima". He is the founding father of Sociology, who discussed all of the necessary basic concepts of Sociology, but the term Sociology was coined by Auguste Comte after 5 centuries. Hence, Ibn-e-Khaldun is the real founder of Sociology not Auguste Comte.
He saw the rise of West and fall of the Muslims. He was among the migrants to Granada (Muslims in Span). Hence, he closely observed the reasons of rise and fall of the civilizations. Moreover, he pioneered the science of comparing of historic events regarding rise and fall of nations over time.
Asabiyya is the social integration/tribalism and in contemporary world like nationalism. Ibn e Khaldun says that, in nomadic phase, the asabiyya is very strong in a civilization, which make that civilization developed. And when a civilzation develops, it becomes relax and its asabiyya becomes weaker which results in its fall. That's why Khuldun said that, "Every civilaztion has seeds of its own destruction."
Nicolas Mechiavelli was a great admirer of Ibn e Khuldun's works.
According to Ibn-e-Khaldoon:
Causes behind Rise of Civilization:
- Has stronger Asabiyya
- Full control over its objects (Absence of Pressure Groups)
- Strong Army
- Hardworking
- Skillful youth
Causes behind Fall of Civilization:
- Has weaker Asabiyya
- Luxury addiction administration
- Weak army
- Too much development
- Urbanization
- Concentration of wealth in some hands
According to Ibn-e-Khaldun that most of historians made these three (3) mistakes while writing history:
- Ignorance of social structure, social change and especially civilization.
- They were biased.
- They accepted reports from everyone without its verification.