David on Ibn Khaldun

“Ibn Khaldūn’s Muqaddimah provides insights into his theories on taxation within the broader context of his analysis of societies and civilizations. The Arab historian recognized taxation as a necessary means for funding the operations of the state. Taxes were crucial for maintaining social order, providing public services, and ensuring the security and stability of the kingdom. But Ibn Khaldūn advocated for a [taxational] system that ensured an equitable distribution of the [taxational] burden among the population. He believed that excessive taxation of certain groups or classes could lead to social unrest and undermine the stability of the state.”

“Ibn Khaldun, writing in the 14th century, [had] famously argued that injustice is the surest path to the destruction of civilization. … He wrote, and I quote in summary: when rulers impose unjust taxes, confiscate property without right, or fabricate accusations, they erode trust. Once the people lose confidence in [worldly] justice, the state’s foundations crumble. Injustice, Ibn Khaldun declared, is not only morally wrong—it is a sociological poison. Thus, for him, peace was inseparable from justice. A community cannot live in harmony if its members are subjected to false accusations, economic exploitation, or denial of their rights. … When injustice becomes systemic [… the] society is harmed. Ibn Khaldun warned that injustice leads to decline because it breaks the moral contract between the rulers and the ruled. Citizens or communities that see their rights trampled lose confidence in [the] government, solidarity fractures, and the legitimacy of authority collapses. … peace cannot be proclaimed while injustice persists. Ignoring such injustices will court social unrest, spiritual alienation, and the corrosion of civil trust. Restoring justice, however, will rebuild peace—both within the affected community and within the larger society.”