The Political Philosophy of the Brethren of Purity in Contemporary Arab Thought

Abstract

The Brethren of Purity and the Companions of Eloquence are a secret esoteric group consisting of a collection of thinkers who lived in Basra during the second half of the fourth century AH (10th century CE). Their ideology had a philosophical and political inclination, with a Shi'i (Ismaili) inclination. They concealed their identities and names, using symbolism, allusion, gestures, and conciseness in their works. Their ultimate goal was to reconcile religion and philosophy, as affirmed in their works known as the Epistles of the Brethren of Purity and the Companions of Eloquence. These works comprised fifty-two epistles divided into four sections, discussing various ideas and sciences. These ideas have remained relevant to this day, as they have been studied and adopted by many contemporary Arab thinkers and researchers in Arab thought.