The hajib was always a man of consequence; being close to the caliph he was always in a position to give messages and ask favours and, most of all, he controlled access to his master.

By our period — the mid-ninth century — the office of hajib doubled with that of the head of the palace guard, which signifies, inter alia, that he was one of the Turkish amirs.

In the Mamliik empire, it is certain that the hājib possessed judicial competence. […] In a first phase, the personality of the hājib does not yet stand out from his administrative character and, naturally, his competence is still restricted to the surroundings to which he belongs. The hājib is still the minister entrusted with the settlement of suits filed against the amīrs and the soldiers, and likewise litigations between soldiers, and especially disputes arising over the endowments and the fiefs which are granted to members of the army.

Hajib

Meaning

Noun

Origin

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