ABSTRACT
One of the underlying ideological features of the Muslim penetration of mediaeval Asia Minor was the concept of jihad or 'fighting in the cause of God'. The behaviour of ghazi fighters is well known for the Saljuq and early Ottoman periods, but less is known for the earlier period because the sources are less explicit about religious motives. The Byzantine writers are prone to describe the Arab fighters as 'godless sons of Ishmael' or 'sons of Agar'/ but show little interest in Muslims except successful generals or soldiers who converted to Christianity, whereas for Arab writers the emphasis is more on the tribal values of valour typically expressed in the pre-Islamic 'ayam ('days') or battle narratives?
