In this essay, I argue that not all five phases of the polity in Al- Muqaddima are necessary or inevitable. While the first three phases are essential for its development, phases four and five, wherein deficiencies in the polity’s foundations may become entrenched and lead to decline, depend on humans’ actions. Grounded in Ibn Khaldun’s philosophy of language and rhetorical style, this interpretation shows that, by employing the conditional particle idhā, he indicates that the entrenchment of deficiencies is uncertain, making decline possible rather than inevitable. Similarly, by portraying the polity as having a lifespan like that of a human, he renders its decline both perceptible and repellent, exhorting readers to exercise restraint. In doing so, the simile also raises awareness that deterioration is, in principle, avoidable, placing responsibility on humans’ choices and habits. Finally, attention to Ibn Khaldun’s rhetorical brevity reveals that he uses ghāya in its lexical sense of ‘utmost’ or ‘extent’, rather than as a natural cause, challenging deterministic readings that overlook his deliberate elision. This reading shifts the focus from ʿumr (lifespan) to ʿumrān (human association), emphasizing the latter and its extent: excessive refinement and luxury ultimately weaken the polity, underscoring the impact of humans’ actions.