Almohads
Overview
The Almohads, also known as al-Muwahhidun or Unitarians (r. 1130–1269), were a significant religious and political movement initiated in southern Morocco by Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Tumart. The movement championed moral reform, religious rigor, and political consolidation under the banner of tawhid (the oneness of God).
Etymology and Translations
- Arabic: الموحدون (al-Muwaḥḥidūn)
- Turkish: Muvahhidler
Moral Reform and Religious Purity
The Almohads emphasized the supremacy of the Quran and Sunnah (hadith), calling for a return to the principles and practices of the early Islamic community. They strongly advocated for:
- Moral rectitude.
- Rejection of anthropomorphism: Any attribution of human characteristics to God was considered blasphemous.
- Prohibition of pagan Berber customs.
- Austere lifestyle: They forbade the consumption of wine, indulgence in music, and wearing luxurious clothing.
Political Vision
In seeking to restore early Islamic socio-political conditions, the Almohads used Islam as a unifying force to consolidate various tribes and establish new political elites.
Their political structure consisted of:
- A leader: Typically viewed as the spiritual and political head.
- A council of ten disciples: Advisors chosen from within the ranks.
- An assembly of fifty tribal delegates: Representing broader tribal factions, providing further consultation.
Religious Administration
The religious administration of Almohads included:
- A keeper of morals.
- Muezzins (callers to prayer).
- Quran instructors: Educators and enforcers of religious education.
Territorial Conquests
The Almohad caliphate expanded significantly, affecting various regions:
- Morocco: The heartland of their influence and the base of their power.
- Iberian Peninsula (modern Spain and Portugal): Their influence extended into parts of Spain.
- Algeria and Tunisia: They undertook military campaigns into these regions to assert their dominance.
Books for Further Studies
- “The Almohad Revolution: Politics and Religion in the Islamic West during the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries” by Amira K. Bennison.
- “The Almohads: The Rise of an Islamic Empire” by Allen J. Fromherz.
- “The Great Caliphs: The Golden Age of the ‘Abbasid Empire” by Amira K. Bennison stretches farther back in Islamic history but provides useful corollary insights.
Takeaways and Conclusion
The Almohad movement exemplifies how religious zeal combined with strict theological principles can translate into significant political power, having far-reaching ramifications across geographical and temporal spectrums. Their approach galvanized a range of tribes under a banner of religious purity and moral reform, reshaping the political landscape of the Western Islamic world.
Conclusion
In essence, the Almohads sought a reformation aligning closely with Islamic orthodoxy as they understood it: a movement simultaneously spiritual and political, demonstrating the enduring complexity of Islamic governance and societal organization.
