The Book of Religion (Kitāb al-Milla) by al-Fārābī

Kitāb al-Milla is the title of one of Abu Nasr al-Fārābī’s short essays on politics and civil science. Nonetheless, in this treatise, as in his other treatises on politics such as al-Siyāsāt al-Madaniyya (The Political Regime)and ĀrāʾAhl al-Madīna al-Fā-ḍila (On the Perfect State), al-Fārābī discusses theoretical philosophy before beginning the civil and political discussions. In The Book of Religion, also,al-Fārābīsets out the subjects of theoretical philosophy and practical philosophy first, in brief; these theoretical discussions serve as the foundation of practical, civil, and political discussions. The significance of this essay: it may be regarded as the basis of al-Fārābī’s civil philosophy, and his other civil and political treatises are shaped in accordance with it; in other words, al-Farabi’s other political works are the elaborated form of this one. We have added section titles to help orient the reader.