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Jewish Warriors |
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By Norman J. Finkelshteyn Ancient, Classical, and Modern Eras Yemen (Himayar) Beyond The Sambation - The Jews of Ethiopia (the Bata Yisrael or Falashas) The Middle East - Muslim Conquests through The Crusades Spain before the Expulsion The Khazar Kaganate Persia and Central Asia Refugees from Spain and Portugal Caveats in Researching Jewish History
Israel Today -- Hairstyle of the Jewish Khazar Copyright and Authoring information
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It was probably this community, and others like it, which two centuries earlier were among the North African and Arabian Jewish communities that participated in the turmoil of the Muslim conquests. The interactions between Jews and Arabs were always complex, with politics influencing the participants as much or more than religion. Thus, while there were instances of horrible enmity, it also seems that the Muslim armies of Mohamed were supported by large alied armies of Jews. An Arab Muslim story gives a glimpse of the relationship between the Jewish warriors and Mohamed: It seems that one day Mohamed had planned a battle against a particular city. Many said that the time was wrong, or that the city was too well defended. At length, the commander of the Jews came into Mohamed's tent. "Tell me frankly, So that we can decide whether to leave or to aid you," said the Jew, "Did you decide on this battle or did God command it?" ...For it is known to all that when Mohamed planned a battle, it invariably failed, but if God commanded it, then the armies of the Muslims were invariably victorious. The Jews of Yemen also have a story about the aliance of the Jewish community and the armies of Mohamed. The Yemenite Jewish community has, or had, at least into the nineteen fifties, a document of protection which is purportedly from the time of Mohamed, and was written at his command. The story is told: One time, the enemies of Islam had the armies of Mohamed cornered and overwhelmed. A battle could not be postponed, but the armies of Islam were severely outnumbered by the enemy. The Jews came to Mohamed and told him not to despair. They pledged that they would stand with him against his enemies. But the battle had to be waged on Saturday morning. "It is your Sabbath," protested Mohamed, "how can I ask you to profane it for me?" Against Mohamed's protestations, the Jewish armies joined the Muslims and together they were victorious. In gratitude, and in recognition of their incredible sacrifice, Mohamed had written a document of protection for his alies, the Jews of Yemen, so that from that point forth they would not have to profane the Jewish Sabbath because the Muslims would protect their peace and keep them safe. A few years after Islam overran North Africa and the Middle East, in the later seventh century, the Berber Jewish Warriors of North Africa learned of the oppression of the Jews in the Visigoth Christian kingdoms of Spain (see Spain before the Expulsion). In an attempt to rescue them, a Berber Jewish army invaded Spain in aproximately 694 CE. The invasion was unsuccessful. Instead, a Moorish, Muslim army defeated the Visigoths in Spain a few years later (711 - 715 CE). Under Moorish rule, the Jews of Spain were liberated and returned to their rightful position in Spanish society (see Spain before the Expulsion). Long after the death of Mohamed, after Islam had become a world religion, during the upheavals of the Crusades, Jewish mountain warriors in Arabia continued as valuable allies. Benjamin of Tudela, traveling in the 12th century wrote about the Hashishim (the Arab warriors feared by the Crusaders): [They] live on high mountains, and worship the Old Man of the land of the Hashishim. And among them there are four communities of Israel who go forth with them in war time. They are not under the rule of the king of Persia, but reside in the high mountains... and none can overcome them."
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Articles and Illustrations by Norman J. Finkelshteyn.
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Copyright Norman J. Finkelshteyn 1997 - 2000 -- All articles and illustrations at this web site are Copyright protected material. Use of these articles and illustrations is subject to appropriate restrictions under United States, International, and local Law.
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