Al-Sulami, a Damascene jurist and philologist publishes…
1105 CE
Al-Sulami, a Damascene jurist and philologist publishes his treatise, Kitab al-Jihad ("Book of the Holy War"), in 1105 and preaches his ideas from the Great Mosque in Damascus.
He recognizes the danger from the Christian invaders and sees their connection to the ongoing Christian reconquests of Sicily and Spain.
He believes that Muslims have abandoned jihad and other religious duties, and argues that the caliphs are supposed to make war on the Christians once a year, something they have not done for many years.
God, he claims, is now punishing Muslims for their sins.
In order to defeat the crusaders, al-Sulami argues that Muslims must practice the inner jihad so that they can successfully undertake the jihad against the enemy.
His message is mostly ignored, as Muslim rulers will not merge the concept of jihad with military expeditions until later in the twelfth century under Nur ad-Din Zangi and Saladin.
Only two manuscripts of the Kitab survive, both incomplete, and both in Damascus.
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