The philosopher-prophet as the ideal ruler. Al-Farabi's justification of the right to govern

Abstract

This paper focuses on al-Fārābī’s concept of the philosopher-prophet as the ideal ruler within his political philosophy. It examines the philosopher-prophet as a figure who integrates two forms of knowledge, combining the highest theoretical and practical virtues of the philosopher with the imaginative and communicative abilities of the prophet. The philosopher-prophet is thus capable of guiding society toward happiness by conveying profound metaphysical truths through accessible means. The paper also compares al-Fārābī’s concept with Plato’s philosopher-king, suggesting that al-Fārābī’s model represents a logical progression in the epistemological foundation of rightful governance.