Final answer:
Option (b), The Mamluk army opposed rule by non-Mamluks because they believed that effective rulers must have undergone the same rigorous training and transformation that they had, which included both military training and former enslavement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reasons Why Mamluk Army Members Opposed Rule by Non-Mamluks
The members of the Mamluk army had strong reservations about being ruled by individuals who were not from their own ranks. One of the central reasons for their opposition was the belief that only those who had experienced rigorous training and enslavement were worthy of ruling.
The Mamluks, having gone through this arduous process themselves, felt that leadership should be exclusive to their group, which cultivated a unique set of qualities and a distinct understanding of military and societal structures. They also saw the shared experience of their group as a unifying and distinguishing factor that was critical for the legitimacy and effectiveness of the ruling class.
To be specific, the Mamluks were not just an army but a powerful military caste in various Islamic societies, particularly within the medieval and early modern Islamic Middle East. Their views on rulership were born out of a system where military slavery transformed them into ruling elites. Consequently, they looked down upon non-Mamluks who lacked the transformative journey that they considered essential for command and governance.