Revered titles of Almoravids and Almohads in Islamic Morocco)

Abstract

In the Far Maghreb, the titles of the rulers varied during the Almoravid and Almohad period, and the reason for this diversity was the view of each of them towards the caliphate, to distinguish the title from others, because the Almoravid state was based on systems created by Yusuf ibn Tashfin. After seizing Marrakesh and conquering the Maghreb and Andalusia, he was able to take the titles of the caliphate and commander of the faithful and made Rule as inherited in his family, so every sultan began choosing a crown prince himself during his lifetime (Ashbakh, 1996, p. 233)

Titles occupied a great interest among the Arabs, so they competed with them in their literary gatherings and scientific circles. Some chose them for themselves willingly and unwillingly, and some imposed a duty on them or bestowed blessings on them. They gave titles to men and women, spears, and swords, and gave them several names, and the title usually took precedence over the real name (Mr. Page 9))

The origin of the title is in the Arabic language, and it is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an in the Almighty’s saying ((O you who have believed, let no people ridicule a people, perhaps they will be better than them, nor let women ridicule other women, perhaps they will be better than them. And do not defame yourselves and do not call one another by nicknames)) Surah Al-Hujurat, verse 11.

 The title is to mention a person’s faults and then it is used for praise. The purpose of the title is to make a person known so that the degree of the high and the lowly and the rank of the young and the old differs (Barakat, 2000, p. 11).

Studying titles is considered necessary to analyze and evaluate the internal structures and systems of countries, as titles were assigned in countries for political purposes (Al-Asqalani, 1989, p. 10).

The head of the Diwan took several titles in many eras, such as in the Abbasid era the title of “Kitab al-Sir” and in the Fatimid era he was called “Kitab al-Dust” and in Morocco “the owner of the highest pen.” So the Diwan al-Insha became one of its specialties in regulating titles and had great importance in organizing them. This indicates the independence of the state and is one of the matters of the transfer of the title from the Caliph to the other.

Diwan al-Insha is the deterioration of the authority of the Caliph in appointing, because the Sultan was the only one to appoint without referring to the Caliph, as well as the Caliph’s tolerance of titles, not giving them to those who do not deserve them. Likewise, the elimination of the Abbasid Caliphate is considered a strong blow to the Caliph’s authority in granting titles