THE POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE SHIA-SUNNI DIVIDE IN AL-ANDALUS

Abstract

The Al-Andalus region, situated at the westernmost frontier of Muslim lands, held a profound allure for various Islamic sects and groups. Among them, Shiites sought to exert their influence and disseminate their ideological tenets among the inhabitants of Al-Andalus. Their endeavors found manifestation in several notable uprisings, one of which was the rebellion led by "Shaghia Ben Abdolvahed Moknasi" against the Umayyad ruler, "Abdolrahman Omavi" (755-788), a protracted struggle that unfolded from 768 to 777 and posed significant challenges to the Umayyad monarchy. Ultimately, the movement was quelled through the assassination of its leader, "Moknasi" (Abdolrahman, 1989: 101).
The widespread presence of Alevism and Ahlul Bayt advocacy groups in select cities within Al-Andalus attests to the Shiite's concerted efforts to infiltrate the political landscape of the region. Alevi families carved out distinct neighborhoods, known as Al-Hashimi, reflecting their allegiance to the Shiite cause. The nomenclature of these neighborhoods pays homage to "Hashem Ben Ebrahim Ben Jafar," a descendant of "Imam Jafar Sadegh," who ventured to Al-Andalus and settled in the "Lobleh" area (Azari, 1983: 56-57).
The Shiite aspiration to establish a firm presence and wield influence in Al-Andalus was fraught with numerous obstacles and challenges. While they did achieve some measure of success at certain points in time, these accomplishments paled in comparison to their counterparts in the eastern territories of Iraq and Iran. The failure of the Shiite movement in Al-Andalus can be attributed to a myriad of factors, with this research specifically delving into the political determinants of this outcome. As succinctly stated by Michael Stanford, "When asked about the cause or causes, there is usually no need for an exhaustive enumeration of all contributing factors. Instead, we focus on those that are most pertinent and beneficial for our analysis" (Stanford, 2005: 319).