ABSTRACT
Almohads Anglicized form of al-Muwahhidūn (AT.) meaning literally 'The Unitarians'. (The Almohads are to be distinguished from the Wahhābīs (q.v.) who also liked the name alMuwahhidūn). The Almohad dynasty flourished in Morocco and Spain from 524/1130-667/1269. Their inspiration was the reformist Berber scholar Ibn Tūmart (470/1077-474/1081-524/ 1130). The dynasty, with its reforming zeal and piety, filled the vacuum left by the declining Almoravids (q.v.) in the Muslim West. However, the Almohads were defeated by the Christian kings at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 609/1212. They were followed in Morocco by the Marīnids. (See Las Navas de Tolosa, Battle of)
Almoravids Anglicized form of al-Murābitūn (Ar.) meaning literally 'those who line up together (in defence of the faith)'. On another level of meaning al-Murābitun meant those who were connected with a ribāt (q-v.), an Arabic word indicating 'a fortress', 'a frontier post', 'a sufi house' and even 'a military formation. The Almoravid dynasty flourished from 448/ 1056-541/1147. It was a Berber movement which gained power in both North Africa and Spain before being supplanted by the Almohads (q.v.). (See Sufi; Tasawwuf.)
Almsgiving See sadaqa; Zakāt.
