The Kharijites Movement in North Africa

This essay concerns the Kharijites movement in the North Africa. I will not attempt here to analyze in detail the Kharijites movement rather than focus upon its influence to the North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, my intention is to demonstrate a preliminary overview of Kharijites movement that has a greater impact in Africa. This essay will first briefly discuss the spread of Islam in Maghrib; second, an attempt will be made on the emergence of Kharijites Berbers; finally, the wrap up views on this subject of discussion.

Islam was spread to the African continent during the time of second caliph, Caliph Umar al-Khattab(13-23 AH/ 634-644CE) through his commander, Amru b al-As (18-21AH/ 639-642 CE). He was sent to Egypt in order to expand the political hegemony as well as to find new resources for Islamic caliphate. As prescribed by John Fage (1978): “Islam, a civilization as well as a religion, was the first major external influence upon the course of African history. Within about four centuries of the Arab conquest of North Africa that began with the invasion of Egypt in A.D. 639…” Since then, the Islamic territory was widening gradually and becoming much prosperous throughout this continent. Later in the Umayyad era, under the general commander of Uqba ibn Nafiq, the Islamic conquest went further into Maghrib (modern day of Tunisia). The local populations were mostly Arab Berbers who were readily accept the Umayyad legitimacy to rule over them. Nonetheless, after several decades, there was a strong resistance by Berbers whom called themselves as Kharijites Berbers whom unsatisfied with Umayyad rule particularly after the death of Caliph Umar ibn Abd’ Aziz. In Kitab al’Ibar (‘Book of Lessons’) by Ibn Khaldun, he draws attention...

... middle of paper ...

...rbers whom had been able in exercising their political hegemony were Sufrites in Sijilmasa and ‘Ibadites in Tahert. Jeffrey Kenney (2006) points out that “Historically, the importance of the Kharijites lies in the challenge they posed to Muslim ruling authorities throughout the Umayyad period and into the Abbasid and in the political and theological debates to which the movement gave rise.” From this we can see that mostly Berbers although they were not inclined towards Arab domination as a political hegemony, it can be assured that they were not against the Islam as a faith religion.

In conclusion, as the Kharijites emerged out in the beginning of Islamic period, has gained its momentum for several decades and it has a greater impact on African continent. This movement still exists in the modern days particularly in the east of sub-Saharan Africa and part of Oman.