💫💫💫⏳💫💫💫

Abu Ali al-Sarrach: the andalusian missionary

In the border regions between Christian and Muslim Spain, inhabited especially by berbers, we find that at the end of the 9th century, a series of enlightened and mystical ones arise, who spread their doctrines trying to gain followers among the gullible and ignorant masses. This characters are not like the ascetic Ibn Masarra, of whom we will speak very soon, but rather, are often subjects more interested in the material than in the spiritual. There will be few adventurers who carry religious thought as flag, try to create an opposition party to the official regime, which will persecute and will not allow them to alter the order that governs Muslim Spain. But if somewhere these subversives of the Maliki Islamic beliefs, it is in the central mountainous areas where they live relegated a large number of Berbers.

One of these characters was Abu Ali al-Sarrach, who a few years before the death of the emir Abd Allah, he dedicated himself to preaching holy war. This Andalusian "missionary" toured the fields dressed as an ancient prophet:

esparto sandals, a rough woolen dress and a donkey as the only ride. All who hear his speech take him for a religious reformer, but it seems that his functions extended somewhat further, since at that time he was dedicated, also, to try to seal an alliance between the powerful Aragonese family of the Banu Qasi and the Bobastro rebel, Ibn Hafsun. However, despite their sleepless nights, it seems that this alliance did not come to fruition.

Three years later, al-Sarrach met and convinced a man from Córdoba, direct descendant from the emir Hisham I, so that he would put himself at the head of the political-religious movement that the Andalusian missionary had been developing alone. This aristocrat from Cordoba, his nickname was Ibn al-Qitt, and he was reputed to be an expert astrologer. We know that astrology and astrologers were revered among the Muslims, which added a point in favor of al-Sarrach's new friend. This movement was really a movement against the reigning Umayyad and his message resonated deeply among the Berbers of the Pedroches district and those of the Almadén mountain range. Everywhere they were welcomed with authentic fervor, they won followers of their cause, and encouraged by these initial successes, they went further heading to the lands occupied by the Nazfa, other Berbers who lived in the High Guadiana, above the city of Mérida.

And there they decide to do the rest: Ibn al-Qitt is presented by al-Sarrach as the Madhi, the messenger of God, who arrives so that Islam regains all its strength and purity. Throughout history many “madhí” will appear, but as in the Hebrew religion, it seems that neither of them have yet received a visit from their respective "messiahs."

The fact is that the new Madhi preaches and exalts holy war among his most faithful devotees, the Berbers of the border areas, and this speech is very well received because, among other messages, it launches that of the conquest of Zamora, now in the hands of Christians. Alfonso III, in the year 893, had fortified it and provided it with a strong garrison. From this city frequent raids were made on Muslim lands and these raids caused great damage to the Berbers. Thus, between religious messages and practical applications, these two characters left making a name and earning the admiration and respect of his loyal followers.

Day by day, al-Sarrach and Ibn al-Qitt see their ranks swell, with columns of volunteers for faith, who respond to the call of holy war, creating an army composed of more than 60,000 troops. With these men, who follow him with blind faith, the Madhi crosses the Tagus River and heads towards the Duero, while along the way they are joined by Muslims arriving from Toledo, Guadalajara, Talavera and the Portuguese city of Santaver

Everyone wants to see, touch and contemplate, first-hand, the “miracles” the Madhí performs, who thanks to his skills as a magician, or rather, as a conjurer, dazzles to those simple people, who no longer doubt that they are in the presence of the sent from God. One of these "miracles" consists of taking several dry twigs, squeeze them with your hand as hard as possible, and the twigs release water. It seems that for al-Qitt's troops his miraculous power were accredited. And if this were not enough, he announces that upon his arrival the premises of the protective wall

of Zamora, will fall before his presence, as if it were a new Joshua.

Al-Sarrach had prudently retreated into the background. Maybe he something big was coming to him, perhaps his protégé had become the protagonist of the action, or maybe he didn't like the direction the events were taking events, because, in all of these, al-Qitt had reached a day of the Christian stronghold of Zamora. From there he sent a defiant letter to Alfonso III, in which he and his people were invited to convert to Islam, since otherwise they would all be exterminated. Alfonso III was outraged by the audacity and the pretensions of that subject, who had ended up believing that, truly, he was the messenger of God. Without further ado and without even answering to the offensive letter, Alfonso III immediately went out to combat him on the shore right of the Duero.

It didn't take long for Muslims and Christians to meet and the conflict was unleashed, battle that, initially, favored the Madhi troops. The Christians were forced to flee to the north, and the Muslims laid siege to Zamora. But despite the victory, desertions began in the Muslim camp, first it was the Nazfa and then other contingents abandoned the Madhi. Envy, jealousy, fear of the Umayyad reaction, perhaps they realized that it was a crazy business, or did they finally understand that this Madhí was not the expected Madhi? It is not known. All these abandonments were known by Alfonso III who considered that, with the troops depleted, the Madhi would be easier to defeat.

Again on the battlefield, the Alfonsine and Madhi hosts faced each other. Ibn Qitt, abandoned almost by all his followers, which did not prevent him from bravely throw himself into combat. It was practically a suicide, because after three days of inconclusive skirmishes, on July 10, 901, he fell struggling. His head was hung over one of the doors of Zamora and there it remained. long time, until it was only a shapeless wreckage, warning of the fate that was waiting for those who were going to discuss the royal Christian authority over the stronghold.

Abu Ali al-Sarrach, the initiator of this whole story, the humble prophet who for the roads he preached holy war and opposition to the Umayyads, he had the ability to disappear in time, while “his envoy”, convinced of his function, died for what he had preached.