Author: Obaidullah Nimruzi
The Guardian of Al-Andalus (Spain); Sultan Yusuf ibn Tashfin [MABH] (Part 10)
The founding of the Rabat and the beginning of the reform movement
Thus, Ibn Yasin, along with Emir Yahya ibn Ibrahim and seven people from the Jadalah tribe, went to an island at the estuary of the Senegal River, where they built a Rabat, whose light covered the entire Maghreb and Andalusia. They worshipped Allah Almighty for three months. The news of this group reached the ears of the people, and when people realized that they were seeking paradise and freedom from hell, they flocked there in groups. The number of repentant people increased to the point that it forced Ibn Yasin to devise new ways to take advantage of this situation. [1]
He called upon Allah Almighty, purified their hearts and instilled faith in them, recited the Quran to them, encouraged them to do good, and warned them of Allah’s punishment; when they saw his asceticism and simple life, they loved him and followed him.
In a short time, nearly a thousand people gathered around him, although a heavy responsibility fell on Ibn Yasin’s shoulders; but he was able to create a coherent structure and turn the unruly and violent people of desert into a disciplined, obedient, and faithful group by his profound knowledge, systematic thinking, and experience gained from interacting with tribes.
To strengthen their intellectual foundations, he began by teaching them wudu; then he taught them prayer, zakat, the Quran, the Sunnah, and other obligatory duties. [2]
After faith had settled in their hearts and their intellects had matured and they said with all their hearts, “We hear and we obey,” he warned them of Hell; of the punishment that has been prepared for the disbelievers and the treacherous; those who have pursued worldly interests and have left the Book of Allah behind; After their hearts trembled and the fear of Allah took hold in their hearts, he introduced them to Paradise, described its eternal blessings, and showed them the path that leads to it; a path that is nothing but jihad, sacrificing wealth, life, and children in the way of Allah.
When he saw their readiness, he called them to begin jihad and said: “O community of the Murabitin! You are a large group and are considered leaders among your tribes. Allah has reformed you and guided you to the straight path; so, it is incumbent upon you to be grateful for His blessings; enjoin good and forbid evil and strive in the way of Allah. » [3]
The Birth of a scholar Leader: A Manifestation of Obedience and Faith in the Leadership of ibn Yasin
The fruition of his tireless efforts was truly evident when the time came for Abdullah ibn Yasin to command and for others to obey without question, and for him to speak and others listen without hesitation. He sowed a seed with unceasing struggle that was now ready to be harvested from the moment he set foot in the lands of the “Multasmun” tribes. What demonstrated this truth was the unparalleled response of the Al-Murabitin to his call; where they said to him with sincerity and deep faith: “O blessed Sheikh! Command us whatever you wish, we are listening and obedient; even if you command us to kill our fathers, we will do it.”
This astonishing statement is a clear picture of a profound transformation in the hearts of Ibn Yasin’s followers. Whoever examines this statement carefully will clearly understand to what extent the call for truth and the call for light and justice have penetrated the souls of that group of believers. A group that transcended emotional and blood ties and saw everything in the service of the banner of Jihad raised by Ibn Yasin, why not this loyalty, while they were humming the divine verse: (لَا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ يُوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا ءَابَاءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَانَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَتَبَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلْإِيمَـٰنَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُوحٍۢ مِّنْهُ) Translation: “You will never find people who believe in Allah and the Last Day making friends with those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred, those in whose hearts Allah has written faith and supported them with a spirit from Him.” [Mujadilah: 22]
When such complete faith and allegiance to Allah and His Messenger is achieved, divine victory will also come: (بَلِ ٱللَّهُ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلنَّـٰصِرِينَ) Translation: “Rather, Allah is your Protector, and He is the Best of Helpers.” [Al-Imran: 150] It was these concepts and beliefs that prepared the Al-Murabitin for vast self-sacrifice.
The secret of Ibn Yasin’s popularity among his followers
Perhaps the question comes to mind: how did Ibn Yasin achieve such a position in the hearts of his companions and students? The answer can be expressed in a few words: by sincere faith, pure loyalty to Allah and the Messenger, sincerity in serving the creed, and asceticism and piety that had permeated his entire life.
As Bakri says about him: “Abdullah ibn Yasin lived among them; but he avoided eating their meat and milk, and his life was based solely on hunting desert game.” [4]
He was a leader who spent his days fasting and his nights in nightly prayers; he prioritized wealth over his friends, practiced asceticism in the world, and did not compete with others for the world in any way. His law was only the Sharia and he enforced it on everyone. Small and big, soldier and emir, far and near, were equal to him. In such a society, only people of religion and faith found status; Those whose goal was to serve the Ummah and get closer to Allah, not race, ethnicity or region.
As Allah the Almighty said: (إِنَّ هَـٰذِهِۦ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً واحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُونِ) Translation: “Indeed, this is your Ummah, one Ummah, and I am your Lord, so worship Me.” [Al-Anbiya: 92]
The love and affection that existed between Ibn Yasin and his companions was rooted in the precious words of the Prophet of Islam, peace and blessings be upon him: “Reject the world so that Allah may love you and reject what is in the hands of people so that people may love you.”
Reasons for the Success of the Al-Murabitin Call
It is within this framework that the secret of the increasing success of the Al-Murabitin Call can be understood; a call that remained steadfast with its truth and sincerity, while other movements, despite their similarities in slogans, collapsed in the face of worldly desires. These movements, which, as soon as they achieved fleeting benefits, quarrels and greed would begin among their leaders, and the selfishness and fanaticism of ignorance would flourish in them, resulting in nothing but division, pretense, and collapse.
In contrast, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Woe to the slaves of dinars, dirhams, and soft cloth! If they are given something, they will be pleased, and if they are not giving something, they will be discontented.” [Al-Nawawi, Riyaz al-Saliheen, p. 169]
The call of the al-Murabitin was a salve for the deep wounds of the Islamic Ummah in the fifth century AH; When the Crusaders, with the slogan of “return”, had resolved to eradicate the Islamic presence in Andalusia, they were plotting in the capitals of Europe to attack Jerusalem, divide the Ummah, and dominate its holy places and resources.
Call or sword, Ibn Yasin’s approach to reforming the nation
Ibn Yasin always preferred calling and returning Muslims to Islamic law; but if the people insisted on their deviation and rebellion, then he would use the sword to eliminate falsehood. He addressed his companions in his school, which was located on the shore of the Senegal River, as follows: “Go to your people, with the blessing of Allah, warn them, warn them of Allah’s punishment, and convey to them the proof of Allah. If they repent and return to the truth, leave them alone. If they persist in their rebellion, we will seek Allah’s help and fight with them until Allah Almighty judges between us, and He is the best of rulers. » [5]
His companions went to their tribes and called and warned them; but they met with nothing but aversion and indifference; so Ibn Yasin personally took action, gathered the elders of the tribes, recited the divine proof to them and warned them for seven days, but they still remained in their corruption. Then he said to his companions: “We have conveyed the proof, we have warned, and we have finished our duty, now jihad against them has become obligatory upon us, so go and fight them in the name of Allah.”
Continues…
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References:
1. Ibn Abi Zar’, Rawz al-Qirtas, p. 79; Ibn ‘Azari, al-Bayan al-Maghrib, 4/11.
2. Ibn Abi Zar’, Ibid; Salawi, al-Istiqsā, 2/8.
3. Ibn Abi Zar’, Rawz al-Qirtas, p. 79.
4. Al-Bakri, al-Maghrib, p. 169
5. Ibn al-Khatib, A’mal al-A’lam, vol. 3, p. 227
6. Ibn Abi Zar’, Rawz al-Qirtas, p. 79; Ibn al-Khatib, A’mal al-A’lam, vol. 3, p. 228
