The political writings of Al-Ma^wardi may be seen as the sum of two distinct styles: 1. The format focusing on the individual ruler as a social figure, as well as his ideal characteristics and lessons learned from the preceding generations, the “Mirrors for Princes” format, which has an important role in the advising tradition in Islam (nasi^hatna^mah); 2. The format in which the theory of the caliphate (ima^mah) is put forward, which is more complicated in structure and focused on issues of government. Within the context of the first style, it is convenient to count The Advice to Kings (Nasi^hat Al-Muluk); and within the second,Al-Ahka^m As-Sulta^niyyah.