Why Did the Almoravid Dynasty Fall? Main Causes Behind Its Collapse

The Almoravids ruled for nearly a century, and their state could have lasted much longer if not for a number of causes and historical factors that led to its collapse. In this article, we will examine the main reasons behind the fall of the Almoravid dynasty.

1. The Growing Influence of Maliki Jurists

It is well known that Almoravid policy was built on the teachings of the Maliki school of Islamic law. The early founders of the state were connected to the teachings of Abu Imran al-Fasi and Abd Allah ibn Yasin. The first was a leading figure of Malikism in Kairouan, while the second studied under Maliki scholars in Cordoba before completing his education under Waggag ibn Zallu al-Lamti.

For this reason, it is not surprising that the Almoravid rulers were deeply influenced by the Maliki school and showed great respect for its jurists. They often acted only after consulting them, since these jurists had played an important role in calling the Almoravids to jihad in al-Andalus.

When Ali ibn Yusuf considered building walls around Marrakesh, he consulted the jurists of Morocco and al-Andalus. Later, when he decided to deport the treaty-bound Christians of Granada to Morocco, he obtained a legal opinion from Judge Ibn Rushd.

In al-Andalus, the jurists of Cordoba also encouraged Ali ibn Yusuf to burn The Revival of the Religious Sciences by al-Ghazali. The author of this book had tried to reconcile Islamic jurisprudence with theology and used logic as a method for examining beliefs. However, the Maliki jurists of Cordoba strongly opposed anything that seemed to go beyond the strict limits of their school.

The opposition to al-Ghazali’s book was led by Judge Ibn Hamdin, who declared anyone who read it to be an unbeliever. As a result, Ali ibn Yusuf obtained a fatwa from the jurists ordering the burning of the book in both al-Andalus and Morocco.

Even the removal of the Taifa kings by Yusuf ibn Tashfin had been carried out with the support of a fatwa from the jurists. No strong voice rose against this intellectual rigidity or against the restrictions placed on freedom of thought and religious schools until the appearance of al-Mahdi Ibn Tumart.

2. The Rise of the Almohads

A movement opposing the Maliki jurists, and even the Maliki school itself, appeared through the figure of al-Mahdi Ibn Tumart. He taught his followers new religious and political ideas that challenged the Almoravid order.

Ali ibn Yusuf did not give enough attention to Ibn Tumart and his movement, despite the warnings of Malik ibn Wuhayb, who was among those close to him. Ibn Tumart failed to capture Marrakesh, but his successor, Abd al-Mu’min al-Kumi, succeeded in defeating the Almoravids.

After taking control of a large part of Morocco, Abd al-Mu’min was finally able to enter the Almoravid capital and bring their rule to an end.

3. Political Disorder in Morocco and al-Andalus

The authoritarian behavior of some Almoravid princes began to appear during the reign of Ali ibn Yusuf. Women also became involved in political affairs, while moral discipline weakened as the Almoravids became more attached to urban luxury after their contact with Andalusian civilization.

Although the rulers themselves remained distant from much of this corruption, Ali ibn Yusuf was known for his gentle nature and for spending much of his time in worship and prayer inside his palace.

At the same time, there was no broad political or tribal unity, even among the Sanhaja of Morocco, capable of stopping the Almohad advance. Still, some cities resisted strongly on their own, such as Ceuta under the leadership of Judge Iyad, and Fez under the leadership of Ibn Abi Bakr al-Sahrawi.

The Almoravids also failed to call upon their army in al-Andalus at the right moment. Meanwhile, the Christian forces were able to advance deep into Muslim territory. The people of al-Andalus took advantage of the disorder in Morocco, expelled the Almoravid governors, and divided the cities of the country among themselves.

The fall of the Almoravid dynasty was not the result of one single cause. It was the outcome of several connected factors: the excessive influence of the Maliki jurists, intellectual rigidity, the rise of the Almohad movement, weak political unity, and the worsening situation in both Morocco and al-Andalus.

Together, these factors weakened the Almoravid state from within and allowed the Almohads to replace it as the dominant power in the Maghreb.

Source: Adapted from Ibrahim Harakat, Morocco Through History, Volume One, Dar al-Rashad al-Haditha, 2nd edition, 1994, pp. 169–170.