In the previous section, we discussed the process of unification of the lands of the Islamic Maghreb; a unity that, with the emergence of the Al-Moravids movement led by the reformist jurist Abdullah ibn Yasin, and the wise management of Yusuf ibn Tashfin, acquired broad political, religious, and cultural dimensions and presented a model of religious-military governance in the Islamic West. This unity paved the way for a larger development that we are now taking steps to examine: namely, the confrontation of the Islamic civilization of Andalusia with the crisis of the Al-Moluk al-Tawayef (feudalism) and the historical role of the Al-Moravids in responding to the cry of distress of the Andalusian Muslims.
The period of the feudalism is considered one of the most critical, turbulent and instructive chapters in the history of Islam in Andalusia; after the fall of the Umayyad Caliphate of Andalusia in 422 AH, the political unity of the Muslims in this region was severely weakened and Andalusia became more than twenty scattered ruling clans; each of these local kings, who became known as the “Al-Moluk al-Tawayef”, was only interested in maintaining their power and court privileges and had neglected their religious and political duties towards the Islamic nation. Internal conflicts, hostile rivalries, luxury and shameful recourse to Christian powers, such as Castile and Leon, were among the most prominent features of this dark age.
This moral and political collapse paved the way for the invasion of the Christian states of northern Iberian Peninsula. The moment of the fall of Tolitalah (Toledo) to Alfonso VI in 478 AH shook the collective conscience of Muslims. Not only the masses, but also jurists, reformers and even some princes were alarmed by this situation and realized that without a coherent and faithful force from outside, the cause of Islam in Andalusia would end. Thus, a cry for help was raised to the Almoravids in the Islamic Maghreb.
The Almoravids, who were known at this time not only as a military force; but also as a religious, reformist and justice-oriented movement, responded to the call of Andalusian scholars, such as Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabi and a group of prominent jurists. After assessing the situation, Yusuf ibn Tashfin entered Andalusia in 479 AH and dealt a crushing blow to Alfonso VI in the great battle of Zalaqah. This victory was not only a turning point in deterring the Christian invasion, but also showed that religious unity and faithful leadership have the power to save the nation even in the most difficult circumstances.
The Almoravids gradually gained control over parts of Andalusia with political intelligence and religious perseverance, and removed the tribal kings, many of whom were mired in corruption and compromise. They were able, albeit relatively, to restore a kind of Islamic unity in Andalusia and revive religious justice and the spirit of jihad in Muslim society.
This summary, while scientifically analyzing the process of the collapse of Andalusia, emphasizes several fundamental points: first, the dangers of political division and self-centeredness; second, the constructive role of foreign reformist forces in the emergency conditions of the nation; third, the strategic position of religious scholars in guiding the path of historical developments; and finally, recognizing the relationship between moral-political decline and the need to revive religion in the field of Islamic governance.
Introduction
The history of Andalusia is a comprehensive mirror of the fate of an Islamic civilization that began in the light of glory and authority and declined in the whirlpool of division and incompetence. From the very first days when Abd al-Rahman al-Dakhil laid the foundation of the Umayyad Caliphate of Andalusia, this land became one of the brightest centers of Islamic civilization; but with the passage of time and the entry of various social, political and religious factors, this powerful state gradually weakened and finally in 422 AH, after the fall of the Caliphate of Cordoba, it disintegrated into dozens of small and independent states that became known in history as the “Al-Moluk al-Tawayef”.
The period of the Al-Moluk al-Tawayef (feudalism) is one of the most bitter chapters in the history of Andalusia; not only because of military weakness or political defeats, but also because it represented the moral collapse and the decline of the spirit of spirituality among the political elite of the time. Instead of uniting against a common enemy, each of these principalities became embroiled in internal rivalries, ambition, and extravagance. The disaster was compounded when many of these kings, in order to maintain their fleeting power, began to pay tribute to the Christian kings of northern Iberia and even to seek their help in suppressing neighboring Islamic states. This dangerous deviation became so entrenched that even jurists and scholars expressed deep concern about this trend.
In the meantime, the fall of the city of Toledo at the hands of Alfonso VI, King of Castile, in 478 AH, served as a awakening call; a call that shook the heavy sleep of the nation and sent a cry of distress from Andalusia to the Islamic Maghreb. The Andalusian elite, fed up with the incompetence and humiliation of the tribal kings, looked to a new but powerful state: the Almoravid state, which was formed on the basis of the religious and reform movement of Abdullah ibn Yassin and, under the wise leadership of Yusuf ibn Tashfin, and had united order and religion in the Maghreb. The Almoravids were not simply a military state, but also a symbol of religious awakening and political unity against division and decadence. The Andalusian cry for help was met with a warm and faithful response by Yusuf ibn Tashfin. Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar in 479 AH, he not only won a brilliant victory over Alfonso VI at the Battle of Zalaqah, but also breathed a new spirit into the body of the Muslims of Andalusia; a spirit that had been buried for years under the ashes of tyranny, pride, and political weakness.
The study of this critical historical period is of fundamental importance to researchers in two dimensions: first, in terms of a precise analysis of why Islamic governments fell due to division, luxury, dependence on foreigners, and disregard for religious teachings; and second, in terms of recognizing the unique role of reformed and faithful forces, such as the Almoravids, who in moments of crisis could save the nation from the abyss of destruction.
This research attempts to examine, with an analytical and critical approach, the political, social, and religious conditions of Andalusia during the era of the Almoravids, and to clarify the factors of seeking help from the Almoravids and the consequences of their arrival. We have also tried to carefully examine, in the light of reliable historical sources, the role of religious scholars, the position of jurisprudence and Sharia in political crises, and the Almoravid governance model; because we believe that this rereading is an undeniable necessity not only for understanding history, but also for understanding the present and designing the future of the Islamic nation.
