The Almoravids Study Resources

STATES AND SOCITIES IN SUBSAHARAN AFRICA HIST 1301 | History The Almoravids The changing sands of power have frequently carved new courses throughout history, influencing the fates of peoples and nations. This was the situation in the turbulent history of the Maghreb, as the power dynamics experienced a sudden and dramatic change from the coastal regions to the untamed Atlas Mountain range in Morocco. This change took place in the midst of a dynastic struggle between the Fatimid Caliphate and the Zirid dynasty over control of the Maghreb, paving the way for a significant period in the history of the area. In the midst of this political turmoil, the Sanhaja became important figures in West African politics. These Islamized Africans ruled over large areas of land, their power extending across the rough terrain. They belonged to a variety of ethnic groups, including the Lamtuna and Djuddala. Ibn Yasin, a man with a unique vision of change and fervent religious devotion, entered this intricate web of tribal allegiances and religious fervour. Ibn Yasin was a very religious Islamic scholar who set out in 1039 to introduce the tribes of the Sanhaja to what he considered to be the "true" Islamic faith. He supported Sunni Islam, which was at odds with the dominant views of the time. Ibn Yasin attempted to enforce the Malikite interpretation of Sunnism, which is marked by a rigid devotion to the literal teachings of the Quran and the sunna, with a passion that verged on fanaticism. He took an uncompromising stance, punishing anybody who tried to deviate from his strict rules on discipline and religious observance with severe consequences. Ibn Yasin spent almost ten years engaged in the complexities of tribal life, trying to use his influence to change the Djuddala's will to conform to his interpretation of Islamic doctrine. But his hardline attitude and punishing tactics incited bitterness among powerful tribal members, which finally resulted in his expulsion from their group. However, this exile turned out to be a turning moment for Ibn Yasin, as he was able to gather a devoted following among the Lamtuna and Djuddala, creating the group that would eventually be known as the Almoravids. Far from discouraging him. The Almoravid movement, led by Ibn Yasin, became a powerful force for religious reform with the sole goal of imposing their understanding of Islam on the Maghrebi people. Encouraged by their expanding army and steadfast will, the Almoravids began a campaign of relentlessness to establish their supremacy, which resulted in a lengthy conflict that lasted for years. By 1054, the Almoravids had established a stronghold on the trade route that connected Sijilmasa and Awdaghost, providing the region's economic lifeline. But this was only the start of their rise to prominence. After Ibn Yasin was killed in battle in 1059, his devoted followers continued their advance, their sights fixed on the legendary city of Fez, a centre of power in the centre of contemporary Morocco. The Almoravids emerged victorious in 1069, taking possession of Fez and making it the centre of their expanding dominion. They set out on a daring expansionist mission, capitalising on Marrakesh, and their kingdom extended from the southern regions of Awdaghost to the faroff coasts of Zaragoza on the Ebro River in Spain. The Maliki legal philosophy was the dominant ideology throughout their rule, overshadowing other views of Islam and pushing the study of the Quran and prophetic traditions to the periphery. However, despite their fervour for religious purity, the Almoravids were distinguished by their fervent intolerance of opposing viewpoints, which threw a pall over both mystic Sufism and Sunni Islam groups. The Almoravid Empire, whose power extended far beyond the changing sands of time, stood as a stronghold of religious exclusivism in sharp contrast to the pluralistic culture of the Fatimids of Egypt. The Almoravids made a lasting impression on history amid the furnace of war and conquest; their legacy is a monument to the perseverance of religion and the unrelenting advance of empires.