The Guardian of al-Andalus (Spain): Sultan Yusuf ibn Tashfin [MABH] (Part 32)
The situation of Andalusia during the time of the tribal kings and the request for help from the Almoravids
A background of collapse and disorder
The noble verse: “وَلَا تَتَزَاعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ” Translation: “And do not quarrel with each other, lest you become weak and your strength vanish.” [1]
Whenever Muslims acted on this clear divine guidance, they gained honor and power on earth; nations trembled at their awe and honored their power; the Islamic society lived in a free, honorable, just, secure and stable atmosphere; and this was the constructive bedrock that created the great Islamic and Arabic civilization, which until the twentieth century continues to be the guiding light for the world.
Despite all this greatness and splendor, Muslims never neglected military and psychological preparation, but were always on alert; because negligence in these matters was considered a form of disobedience to the command of the Holy Quran. The same Quran that explicitly states: “وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُم مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَآخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ” Translation: “Prepare whatever force you can to confront the enemies; Whether it is weapons of war or trained horses for battle; so that you may terrify with them the enemies of Allah and your enemies, and others whom you do not know, but Allah knows them.” [2]
So, caution and preparation were not limited to borders and fronts, but also included preventing open and hidden conspiracies; the same enemies that the Quran has repeatedly warned Muslims about.
Breaking the Pillar of Unity after the Fall of the Caliphate
However, if we look at the situation of Andalusia from the time the Umayyad government fell there and the Caliphate was dismantled in Andalusia until the Battle of Zallaqa in 479 AH, we see that the Muslims of Andalusia unfortunately distanced themselves from the Quranic advice; the Quran had strictly forbidden conflict, disagreement, and competition for power. These great plagues, from which Andalusia had remained immune for more than three centuries, gradually befell; Although they had suffered some weaknesses during this time, they never reached the point of deposing the Caliph, or drawing swords against him and shedding his blood; as they did at the beginning of the fifth century AH with “Hisham Mu’ayyid Billah” and “Al-Musta’in Billah”.
The people of Andalusia had been proud of other Islamic nations for their unity, clear thinking, adherence to the Sharia, and following the righteous predecessors; even one of the blessings of this land was that the great predecessors were never spoken ill of in its pulpits; and this is still the case. Andalusia was one of the important borders of Islam; because it was adjacent to the Roman lands and maintained constant contact with their countries. [3]
Division and Fall; The Beginning of the Dark Ages
However, despite all these valuable features, Andalusia suffered from the fatal diseases that we mentioned earlier. These plagues destroyed the magnificent structure of Andalusia and turned its unified body into pieces in conflict; so they were defeated, their awe was gone, their situation was corrupted, and the sanctities that Islam considered sacred and forbade transgression were broken; at the forefront of them was the right to jihad, which is the fundamental right of every Muslim.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “لا يَحِلُّ دمُ امرئٍ مسلمٍ إلّا بإحدى ثلاث: النفسُ بالنفس، والثيِّبُ الزاني، والمفارقُ للدينِ التاركُ للجماعةِ” Translation: “The blood of a Muslim is permissible only in three cases: one for another, the adulterer, and the one who has left the religion and abandoned the Muslim community.” [4]
Apart from these three cases, the blood of a Muslim is protected and his opinion is respected, even if he disagrees with others in politics or religion, as long as he is a Muslim and a monotheist. The fact that a Muslim’s blood is shed just because of a political or intellectual difference of opinion is a sign of sedition and the loss of the interests of the Islamic Ummah, and it indicates that society has entered into a game of personal and selfish interests, not public and religious interests.
In this regard, the Quran’s severe and frightening warning against the deliberate killing of Muslims is very serious, as it says: “وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًا” Translation: “And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein forever; and Allah is angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment”. [5]
The beginning of the collapse and the rule of chaos and fire
The fact is that with the dethronement of the last Umayyad Caliph of Andalusia in 422 AH, the unity of the region was broken and chaos spread throughout Andalusia, and from then on, the name “Caliphate” was removed from this region. [6]
This region was called the “Island of Andalusia” because it was surrounded by sea on all sides, except in the direction that led to the Roman lands; for this reason, it resembled an island between the sea and the Roman lands, although there was also a land route from this side to Constantinople. [7]
After that, disasters descended one after another, the situation of the leaders and rulers became corrupt, worthless and unworthy people came to power, rebellions spread everywhere, and the fire of sedition flared up in every corner. [8]
