Ibn Yasin
Encyclopedia
Abdallah Ibn Yasin was a theologian and founder of the Almoravid movement and dynasty.
Abdallah ibn Yasin was from the tribe of the Jazulah (pronounced Guezula), a Sanhaja
sub-tribe from the Sous
. He was a Maliki
theologian, and in 1046 was invited by the Gudala chief Yahya Ibn Ibrahim to promulgate his teachings amongst the Berber
of the Adrar (Mauritania
). The Sanhaja
were at this stage only superficially Islamicised and still clung to many heathen practices, and so Ibn Yasin preached to them an orthodox Sunnism.
After a revolt of the Gudala he was forced to withdraw with his followers. In alliance with Yahya ibn Umar, the leader of the Lamtuna
tribe, he managed to quell the rebellion.
Ibn Yasin now formed the Almoravid alliance from the tribes of the Lamtuna, the Masufa and the Gudala, with himself as spiritual leader and Yahya ibn Umar taking the military command. In 1054 the Maghrawa
-ruled Sijilmasa
was conquered. Ibn Yasin introduced his orthodox rule - amongst other things wine and music were forbidden, non-islamic taxes were abolished and one fifth of the spoils of war were allocated to the religious experts. This rigorous application of Islam soon provoked a revolt in 1055.
Yahya ibn Umar was killed in 1056 in a renewed revolt of the Gudala in the Sahara, upon which Ibn Yasin appointed Yahyas brother Abu-Bakr Ibn-Umar
(1056–1087) the new military leader. Abu Bakr destroyed Sijilmasa, but was not able to force the Gudala back into the Almoravid league. He went on to capture Sūs and its capital Aghmat
(close to where is now Marrakech
) in 1057.
Ibn Yasin died while attempting to subjugate the Barghawata on the Atlantic coast in 1059. His grave is 33 km almost due south of Rabat
, near Rommani
, overlooking the Krifla River, marked on Michelin
maps as the marabout
of Sidi Abdallah. A mosque and a mausoleum were built on his grave, the site is still intact today.
Abdallah ibn Yasin was from the tribe of the Jazulah (pronounced Guezula), a Sanhaja
Sanhaja
The Sanhaja or Senhaja were once one of the largest Berber tribal confederations of the Maghreb, along with the Zanata and Masmuda...
sub-tribe from the Sous
Sous
The Sous or Souss is a region in southern Morocco. Geologically, it is the alluvial basin of the Oued Sous , separated from the Sahara by the Anti-Atlas Mountains...
. He was a Maliki
Maliki
The ' madhhab is one of the schools of Fiqh or religious law within Sunni Islam. It is the second-largest of the four schools, followed by approximately 25% of Muslims, mostly in North Africa, West Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and in some parts of Saudi Arabia...
theologian, and in 1046 was invited by the Gudala chief Yahya Ibn Ibrahim to promulgate his teachings amongst the Berber
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
of the Adrar (Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
). The Sanhaja
Sanhaja
The Sanhaja or Senhaja were once one of the largest Berber tribal confederations of the Maghreb, along with the Zanata and Masmuda...
were at this stage only superficially Islamicised and still clung to many heathen practices, and so Ibn Yasin preached to them an orthodox Sunnism.
After a revolt of the Gudala he was forced to withdraw with his followers. In alliance with Yahya ibn Umar, the leader of the Lamtuna
Lamtuna
The Lamtuna were a powerful nomadic Berber tribe belonging to the Senhaja inhabiting the western Sahara.During the eighth century the Lamtuna created a kingdom out of a confederation of Berber tribes, which they dominated until the early tenth century. The Lamtuna probably did not convert to Islam...
tribe, he managed to quell the rebellion.
Ibn Yasin now formed the Almoravid alliance from the tribes of the Lamtuna, the Masufa and the Gudala, with himself as spiritual leader and Yahya ibn Umar taking the military command. In 1054 the Maghrawa
Maghrawa
The Maghrawa or Meghrawa were a Berber tribe in Morocco and central and western Algeria.-History:The Meghrawa, a tribe of Zanata Berbers, were one of the first Berber tribes to submit to Islam in the 7th century. They supported Uqba ibn Nafi in his campaign to the Atlantic in 683...
-ruled Sijilmasa
Sijilmasa
Sijilmasa was a medieval trade entrepôt at the northern edge of the Sahara Desert in Morocco. The ruins of the town lie along the River Ziz in the Tafilalt oasis near the town of Rissani...
was conquered. Ibn Yasin introduced his orthodox rule - amongst other things wine and music were forbidden, non-islamic taxes were abolished and one fifth of the spoils of war were allocated to the religious experts. This rigorous application of Islam soon provoked a revolt in 1055.
Yahya ibn Umar was killed in 1056 in a renewed revolt of the Gudala in the Sahara, upon which Ibn Yasin appointed Yahyas brother Abu-Bakr Ibn-Umar
Abu-Bakr Ibn-Umar
Abu Bakr ibn Umar ibn Ibrahim ibn Turgut, sometimes suffixed al-Sanhaji or al-Lamtuni was a chieftan of the Lamtuna Berbers of the western Sahara, and commander of the Almoravids from 1056 until his death....
(1056–1087) the new military leader. Abu Bakr destroyed Sijilmasa, but was not able to force the Gudala back into the Almoravid league. He went on to capture Sūs and its capital Aghmat
Aghmat
Aghmāt was an important medieval Berber town in southern Morocco which is today an archaeological site known as "Joumâa Aghmat". It is situated approximately 30 km east of Marrakech on the Ourika road...
(close to where is now Marrakech
Marrakech
Marrakech or Marrakesh , known as the "Ochre city", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history...
) in 1057.
Ibn Yasin died while attempting to subjugate the Barghawata on the Atlantic coast in 1059. His grave is 33 km almost due south of Rabat
Rabat
Rabat , is the capital and third largest city of the Kingdom of Morocco with a population of approximately 650,000...
, near Rommani
Rommani
Rommani is a Moroccan town in the region of Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër. It is situated at approximately 60 km southeast of Morocco's capital of Rabat and 100 km east of its economic and cultural hub of Casablanca .-History:Camp Marchand was established on 30 July 1911 at Zebida,...
, overlooking the Krifla River, marked on Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
maps as the marabout
Marabout
A marabout is a Muslim religious leader and teacher in West Africa, and in the Maghreb. The marabout is often a scholar of the Qur'an, or religious teacher. Others may be wandering holy men who survive on alms, Sufi Murshids , or leaders of religious communities...
of Sidi Abdallah. A mosque and a mausoleum were built on his grave, the site is still intact today.