'Abdallah ibn Yasin

'Abdallah ibn Yasin (d. July 7, 1059 in Krifla, near Rommani, Morocco) was one of the founders of the Almoravid movement. In 1039/1040, ‘Abdallah, from the Jazula group of Sanhaja nomads, joined Yahya ibn Ibrahim, chief of the Juddala group in a movement of Islamic conversion among their peoples. When the latter died, ‘Abdallah was faced with a revolt of the Juddala. He elected to perform a retreat -- a hijra -- in emulation of the Prophet, and gathered a community of followers. In alliance with Yahya ibn 'Umar, 'Abdallah ibn Yasin, the leader of the Lamtuna tribe, he managed to quell the rebellion. The movement which emerged in 1042/1043 became known as the Almoravid movement. The Almoravids carved out an Islamic empire in the Sahara ranging as far as Morocco and Spain.

'Abdallah ibn Yasin formed the Almoravd dynasty alliance from the tribes of the Lamtuna, the Masufa and the Juddala, with himself as spiritual leader and Yahya ibn 'Umar as the military leader. 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 Judala in the Sahara, upon which Ibn Yasin appointed Yahya's brother Abu Bakr ibn 'Umar, the new Almoravid military leader. Abu Bakr destroyed Sijilmasa, but was not able to force the Judala back into the Almoravid league. He went on to capture Sus and its capital Aghmat in 1057.

‘Abdallah was killed in battle in 1059 while attempting to subjugate the Bargawata on the Atlantic coast in 1059. Shortly afterwards the Almoravid movement split into northern and southern contingents. The southern movement, led by Abu Bakr ibn ‘Umar, conquered Ghana in 1076/1077.

The grave of 'Abdallah ibn Yasin is 33 kilometers due south of Rabat, overlooking the Korifla River, marked on maps as the marabout of Sidi 'Abdallah. 

Abdallah Ibn Yasin was a theologian and the 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, a disciple of Waggag ibn Zallu al-Lamti and studied in his Ribat, "Dar al-Murabitin" which was located in the village of Aglu, (near present-day Tiznit). In 1046, the Gudala chief Yahya Ibn Ibrahim, came to the Ribat asking for someone to promulgate Islmaic religious teachings amongst the Berber of the Adrar (present-day Mauritania) and Waggag ibn Zallu chose to send Abdallah ibn Yasin with him. 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, 'Abdallah ibn Yasin was forced to withdraw with his followers. In alliance with Yahya ibn Umar, the leader of the Lamtuna tribe, 'Abdallah ibn Yasin managed to quell the rebellion.

Ibn Yasin 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 Yahya's 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.

Alternative names include:

'Abd Allah ibn Yasin
'Abdallah ibn Yasin
'Abdullah ibn Yasin
Ibn Yasin, 'Abd Allah
Ibn Yasin, 'Abdallah
Ibn Yasin, 'Abdullah