The Book of the Jihad of 'Ali ibn Tahir al-Sulami (d. 1106)

In 1105 Damascene Muslim jurisprudent ‘Ali ibn Tahir al-Sulami (d. 1106) dictated a call to the military jihad against the European invaders. Entitled Kitab al-Jihad, al-Sulami’s work summoned his Muslim brethren to the jihad and instructed them in the manner in which it ought to be conducted. The text is vital for understanding the Muslim reaction to the crusades, and provides the first contemporary record of Muslim preaching against the crusaders. This book provides a complete edition and the first full English translation of the extant sections of the manuscript, making it available to modern readers for the first time. An introductory study explores al-Sulmani's influences and techniques, and suggests possible directions for future study. An appendix provides translations of jihad sermons by Ibn Nubata al-Fariqi (d. 985), a preacher whose rhetorical style influenced al-Sulami’s work.