Published: al-Tartushi, the Andalusi Jurist of Alexandria

“A fair king should be to his people what the rain is to the thirsty plants, or even better, for the rain lasts for a while, while the blessings of justice are timeless.” – Al-Turtusi, Siraj al-Muluk

The eleventh-century Andalusi scholar and Islamic jurist, al-Tartushi (from Tortosa, Spain), wrote his book (Siraj al-Muluk) about the principle of good rule and governance centuries before Machiavelli’s ‘The Prince’.

Al-Turtusi’s legacy is little known both in his hometown and in Alexandria where he lived, preached and died, having confronted one unfair ruler after another. This is an article of mine published about him in Ahram Online:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/62346.aspx