POLITICAL LEGITIMACY AND JIHAD IN MUSLIM SICILY, 217/827-445/1053.

Format:

Book

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

GRANARA, WILLIAM E.

Contributor:

University of Pennsylvania.

Subjects (All):

Middle Ages.

0581.

Local Subjects:

0581.

Physical Description:

254 pages

Contained In:

Dissertation Abstracts International 47-10A.

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

text file

Summary:

This work is a study of the Muslim institution of jihad (just or holy war) and its role in the politics of medieval Islam. The context of this study is Muslim Sicily, from the decision to launch jihad against Byzantine Sicily by the Aghlabid court in North Africa, to the loss of Arab rule over the island to the Normal invaders.

The first chapter is a narration of the dynastic history of Muslim Sicily, from Aghlabid, Fatimid to Kalbid rule. The second chapter discusses the role of 'holy war' in the medieval world, the etymology of 'jihad', and its treatment in Arabo-Islamic scholarship. The chapter also discusses the historical circumstances that led to the Muslim invasion of Sicily in the form of jihad.

The third chapter treats the physical features of jihad, including patterns of military activity, the thrust of the jihad movement, and Muslim adventurism into southern Italy. This chapter also discusses the structure and composition of Dar al-Islam (the Muslim community) in Sicily and its relations with Dar al-Harb (the non-Muslim), i.e., the local population and its Byzantine patrons. The fourth chapter discusses the juxtaposition of 'holy war' and 'due authority' in both the Muslim East and the Latin West, the qualities of leadership as expressed by medieval Arab historians, and the acquisition of power. This chapter also traces the breakdown of Dar al-Islam is Sicily and finally the role that jihad played in the search for political legitimacy.

Jihad was the foremost feature of Sicilian Islam. It was the spiritual appeal and physical force of jihad that brought Islam to Sicily where it remained for four centuries. Jihad existed in Sicily so long as Muslims inhabited it. But its real existence, its highest expression, and its fullest implications were to be found not so much on the battlefield, but in the realm of Muslim politics. Jihad was the rule that governed Muslim relations with the Christians of the island and their Byzantine patrons. Jihad was the principle that guided relations between the rulers of North Africa and their autonomous minded subjects in Sicily. Above all, jihad was the instrument with which a ruler sought power and legitimacy to his rule.

Notes:

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-10, Section: A, page: 3849.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Pennsylvania, 1986.

Local Notes:

School code: 0175.

Access Restriction:

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