Islamset - Political Entities in Western Islamic World

Political Entities in the Western Islamic World

Since the fifth Hijri century, a reforming movement and a Maliki religious uprising took place among the tribes of Sanhajat-Al-Lietham in the Shankit (Mauritania) desert in the far west. This resulted in creating a state loyal to the Abbasids in Baghdad called the State of Almoravides Al-Mulathameen who put an end to opposition in the Maghreb mountains and conquered the Kingdom of Ghana led by Amir Abi Bakr Ibn Omar Al-Lamtuni. They also defeated the Spanish at the battle of Zallaka in Andulasia in the north led by Amir Yusuf Ibn Tashfin in 479 A.H. (1086 A.D.), thus preventing the loss of Spain. They also controlled gold trading centres in the southern Maghreb like Sijilmasa and Awdaghast (Aghmat). By so doing they controlled the routes linking Maghreb with Spain on the one hand and with western Sudan on the other. This may account for the international fame and stable value of the Al Moravid gold dinar.

In addition to these great achievements, Islam spread to numerous east Asian countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaya and the Maldives. It also spread throughout the Sudanic belt in Africa, as well as in Europe and America, as is evident today. Trade played an important positive role in uniting the world of Islam and in spreading its religion, language and civilization beyond its borders by good example. The expansion of Islam into all countries of the world is attributable to those traders and others of the unknown soldiers of Allah, travellers. Sufis and Ulama.

On the other hand within two centuries, the Ottoman state expanded east, west and south to reach the gates of Vienna, Greece, the Mediterranean Islands and parts of Italy and Austria. The Ottoman state was the most stable in its large area. It was notable as it provided stability to the European cities where Islam has spread. Belgrade, for instance, became an advanced city in central Europe and the gate of the East.

The Ottoman Sultans undertook the spreading of Islam and its defense; one very obvious example is the martyrdom of Bayazid Al Sa'iqa while defending Damascus against the invading Mongols after the spread of Islam in Bulgaria and Italy. He also defeated the European alliance at Nicopoli on the Danube in 795 A.H./1392 A.D. After the conquest of Constantinople in 857 A.H./1453 A.D. the way was paved for the spread of Islam in eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region. It spread in the Peloponese, Serbia, Bosnia and Hercegovina (Yugoslavia), major parts of Rumania, the Aegean Sea, Belgrade, Rhodes and Hungary .The campaigns of Suleiman Al-Qanuni (927-974 A.H./1520-1566 A.D) had a deep impact on the stability of the foundation of Islam in Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. He reached the castle of Koszeg in 939 A.H./1532 A.D. and conquered Austria. The city of Graz, the second largest city in Austria, became Islamic. By November 21,1532 A.D. the whole of Austria was Muslim. Sultan Suleiman also sent campaigns to Italy (Korvo and Polio), to Moldavia (Rumania), Bodene and Astrakon (Hungary).

History records that Sultan Suleiman al Qanuni led his Ottoman army even when seriously ill. On the morning of June 29, 1566 A.D. he rode his horse and inspected the Ottoman forces in the Zamlen desert, opposite Belgrade. He gave his orders to attack the German castle of Sigervar. A few days later, he passed away and his soldiers captured the castle five hours after his death.

The Ottoman state consolidated Islam everywhere it reached. It built and established many social and cultural institutions like mosques, colleges, schools, monasteries, asylums, hostels and baths. There is almost no European city without an Islamic monument indicative of the civilized role of the Muslim Ottoman State.