The battle, sometimes See jizya. under Nikāh. (See also Sūrat al-Nahl.) : called the Battle of Tours, was one in which the Arabs were defeated. The historian Edward Gibbon believed that this battle was so decisive that, had the Arabs not been defeated, 'the Arabian fleet might have sailed without a naval combat into the mouth of the Thames' and that 'Perhaps the interpretation of the

doi:10.4324/9780203986158-71

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The battle, sometimes See jizya. under Nikāh. (See also Sūrat al-Nahl.)

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ABSTRACT

Poitiers, Battle of Battle between the Arabs and Charles Martel, fought between Tours and Poitiers, in 114/732 which is alleged finally to have halted the Muslim advance into Europe. The Arab forces were commanded by 'Abd al-Rahmān alGhāfiqī, and the Christian army by Martel. The battle, sometimes called the Battle of Tours, was one in which the Arabs were defeated. The historian Edward Gibbon believed that this battle was so decisive that, had the Arabs not been defeated, 'the Arabian fleet might have sailed without a naval combat into the mouth of the Thames' and that 'Perhaps the interpretation of the Koran would now be taught in the schools of Oxford . . .' However, some historians believe that Gibbon created something of a major myth when he imbued the battle with so much significance and they claim that the whole affair, in reality, was little more than a skirmish. (See Hishām; Qur'ān.)

Polytheism See Shirk.