THE ROLE OF ISLAMIC ULAMA IN THE RESISTANCE OF THE CRUSADERS INVASION AT THE ISLAMIC EAST (440-648. A.H. - 1097-1250A.D.)

Abstract 

       This study deals with an important and effective group in the Islamic society, whose participations were obvious historically, especially during the crusaders invasion at Egypt and Syria. So this study has the title “ The Role of Islamic Ulama in The Resistance of the Crusaders Invasion at the Islamic east (490-648.A.H. - 1097-1250 A.D.), so the research through this study centered on following the resistance with its numerous styles, and the picture which appeared from the cooperation of the Ulama’s efforts with the political and military authorities to realize the supreme aim represented in defeating the occupation and liberation of the land from the crusaders.

       This study includs five chapters and an introduction. The introductory chapter treats the policital and intellectual life before the crusaders invasion at the Islamic east, so it reviews
the important political and military powers in Egypt and Syria, and the fighting between them, especially the fatimid. Seljug struggle, and the political divisions which emanted from it, and participates in the weakening of the Islamic front before the invasion. The study also revealed the grow of the intellectual acitivty in Egypt and Syria, and the prominent center of this activity, and the participations of the Ulama in it, this chapter was concluded by showing the denominational division between suna and shia, and mentioning the Nizami schools and their effect in the resistance of the shii thought at this period.

       In the first chapter, the concertration was on the Ulamas role in the teaching during the crusaders invasion at Egypt and Syria, to clarify sunni Ulama’s participation in the Zingi, and Ayubid periods in the annihilation of the shii thought, and the role of the schools and their Ulama in restoration of the sunni thought by care with the religious studies and the effect of these studies, especially the Holy Koran and the prophets’ traditions in charging the nation for Jihad, and supporting the study with examples of the instructional activities of some families like maqadisah in Syria and the family of shaikh al shuyukh (Sufi) in Egypt and Syria, and mention the Ulamas’ rank and their favor and importance by the kings and sultans.

       The second chapter was devoted to the Ulama’s participations in the presentation of the idea of Jihad during the crusaders invasion, by showing its virtues and importance, and arousal of interest in it, and presentaion of the Ulamas’ efforts in Urging people and leaders by review the important means which every one of them employed to call to Jihad, as every one’s place, korans’ teacher, traditions teacher, speaker, preacher, employee, advisor to the king or sultan or calling for the help of the Abbasid caliph or seljug sultan, and mentioning the participations of some of the Ulama’ in the Jihad movement, by accompanying the military leaders, so they were advisors and preachers for them, supporting them, consoling, them if ulcer be fall them, and the distiniction of their writings and correspondences to gather the armies and the unity. The study takes an interest in the preachers and their role in the reminding of the Jihad and during for it.

       In the third chapter the Ulamas’ role in the military operations become clear, by review their participation and confrontation to the first crusade which centered in Syria, so mentioned the Ulamas’ of Bait Al- Maqdis. Tripolis Jablah, Tyre and Alleppo, and the participants in the conqust of Al- Ruha and other cities, and their devotion and death defiance in fighting the crusaders during the second crusade at Damascus. The chapter also contains showing their military participation during the king Nur al – din Zingi and the Sultan Saladin periods, and following the resistance of Egypt Ulama’ to the fifth and sixth crusades at Dimiat, with their heroism and martyrs, the chapter devoted a title to the Ulamas’ resistance to the invasion during the king al – Adil Ibn Najm Al – Din period, and their purticipation in killing the crusaders prisoners.

       The fourth chapter searchers for the participations of the Ulama’ in the political affairs, and charging them for lofty functions, to prevent the crusaders success in conquering all Egypt and Syria. So they cooperare with the political authority, especially in securing the financial sypport to the Mujahidin, so it revealed their efforts to the unity of Muslims at Nur al – Din Saladin and the king Al – Kamil ibn Al – Adil, and proved their efficiency and care of the Islamic front by standing against the conpirators, and their position from the Muslim rulers who collude with the crusaders as Al- Iz ibn Abd Al- Salam did, and expressed their role of some of them in the peace with the crusaders.

       The study was concluded by the fifth chapter which clarified the Ulamas’ participation in the composition and wiritng, especially the subjects relating with the crusades and resistance, and mentioning the Ulama’ who were contemporqry of the crusades, whose books were famous, and showing their motives to compose, and following the subjects which they treated during this period, political, military, economic administrative or instructional, and showing the crusaders’ image in the compositions of the Ulama’.