Ahmed Abdullah Yousef

Ali bin Rashamouj

This dinar, dated 344 AH, presents a puzzle in Islamic numismatics. Firstly, Ali ibn Rashamuj is unknown and not mentioned in any historical source. Secondly, there is no mention of any Abbasid or Fatimid caliph on the dinar. Thirdly, the mint is unknown and its origin is unclear. However, we can discern some clues that provide some information: Firstly, the Shi'a traditions and the dinar's style are similar…

Yep Island's huge coins

The island of Yep in Micronesia, in the Pacific Ocean, uses the US dollar as its official currency. However, they also use another unusual currency: large limestone discs, some weighing as much as a car. These discs are plentiful there, and thieves cannot steal them due to their size. Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2011/02/15/131934618/the-island-of-stone-money?fbclid=IwAR1jeyPGW9cbb6G2uGY1Slr6tA1Dy1PjvOr_LdrRnG3ryZJ62fA83sZ2HWU

Rare Islamic coins

This coin, belonging to the Abbasid Caliph al-Mutawakkil, bears the inscription on its obverse: "In the name of God, Muhammad is the Messenger of God, al-Mutawakkil." On the reverse is the date: "Year 241 AH." The obverse depicts a man (possibly the Caliph himself), while the reverse shows a soldier holding a camel. The coin weighs 4.24 grams of silver, and the reason for its minting is unknown. It is a unique piece.

Jerusalem Redemption Dinar

Rare Islamic Coins: The Jerusalem Reconquest Dinar; The Battle of Hattin: A decisive battle between the Crusaders and the Muslims, led by Saladin, took place on Saturday, 25 Rabi' al-Thani 583 AH (July 4, 1187 CE) near the village of Majdal, between Nazareth and Tiberias. The Muslims were victorious. The Crusaders' defeat at the Battle of Hattin was catastrophic, as they lost the flower of their knights, and large numbers were killed…

01 Shajar al-Durr

Banu Samjur

The Banu Samjur were a Turkic family who served the Samanid princes of Bukhara in the 10th century CE. They played an influential role in the history of eastern Iran and southern Afghanistan during that period, and by the second half of the 10th century, they had established a semi-independent principality in Khorasan. The Banu Samjur originated as Mamluks of the Samanid princes. They quickly rose to prominence thanks to their skills as leaders…

Rare Islamic coins: The fils of Jahwar ibn al-Murar

Jahwar ibn Marrar al-Ajli was a brave commander loyal to the Abbasids. Abu Ja'far al-Mansur sent him to fight Sunbadh al-Majusi, who had risen up seeking revenge for the blood of Abu Muslim al-Khurasani. Jahwar defeated him in a battle between Hamadan and Rayy in 137 AH. However, he considered the spoils of war as booty and distributed them among the fighters, sending nothing to the Caliph. The Caliph then demanded it, but Jahwar refused…

Coin of Sayf al-Dawla al-Hamdani

Rare Islamic coins minted by Sayf al-Dawla al-Hamdani. Sayf al-Dawla al-Hamdani (Sayf al-Dawla al-Abbasiyya) (303-356 AH / 915-967 AD) was Ali ibn Abi al-Hayja ibn Hamdan ibn al-Harith Sayf al-Dawla al-Taghlibi, founder of the Emirate of Aleppo, which included most of northern Syria and parts of western Mesopotamia, and brother of Hassan ibn Abdullah (known as Nasir al-Dawla…

The Atabegs of Bury

Rare Islamic Coins: The Burid Atabegs' Mint. The Burids were a Turkish dynasty that ruled Damascus from 1103 to 1154 CE. The dynasty's founder, Zahir al-Din Tughtekin (1103-1128 CE), was a Seljuk soldier in the Levant. In 1095 CE, he was appointed Atabeg of the Levant by the Seljuk prince Duqaq ibn Tutush. From 1103 CE onward, the rule of Damascus became hereditary within his descendants. Four of his sons...

Banu Mirdas

The Mirdasids were an Arab family from the Banu Kilab clan of the Hawazin tribe of the Qays confederation. Their pre-Islamic homeland was the protected area of al-Rabadha, near Medina, al-Awali, and the highlands of Najd. Some of them migrated and settled on the banks of the Euphrates in the Levant. The Mirdasid state encompassed Aleppo, Manbij, Balis, Raqqa, al-Rahba, Homs, Sidon, Baalbek, and Tripoli. Its first ruler was Salih ibn Mirdas, nicknamed "Asad..."

The Artuqid state

The Artuqid state, named after Artuq ibn Aksab, from whom the Artuqid dynasty (also known as the Artuqids or Banu Artuq) originated, ruled southeastern Anatolia (Diyarbakir and Mardin) and northern Mesopotamia between 1098 and 1232 CE (some branches continued until 1408 CE). Following the Seljuk victory at the Battle of Manzikert, the Artuqids migrated to Anatolia along with other Turkic tribes. The dynasty's founder…

Marrakech Through the Ages

Marrakech, also known as the Red City and the City of Palms, is the third largest city in the Kingdom of Morocco in terms of population density and is located in the south-central region. The city was founded in 1062 CE by Yusuf ibn Tashfin, after whom its most famous school, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, is named, to serve as the capital of the Almoravid dynasty. The name Marrakech was historically used to refer to Morocco itself, ever since Marrakech was the capital of the Almoravids…

Fatimid Railway to Palestine

In the year 357 AH, Abu al-Misk Kafur al-Ikhshidi died, an event that would change the region. The Fatimids had been eagerly awaiting this news because Kafur was a powerful ruler, a shrewd politician, a clever military leader, and a prince beloved by both the people and the military commanders. This led al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah to declare, "We will not enter Egypt while the Black Stone is there," and he assumed power…

Himyarite Kingdom

An ancient Yemeni kingdom that arose in Zafar Yarim, it succeeded in conquering the four ancient Yemeni kingdoms and uniting them and their tribes into a single kingdom that ruled between 110 BC and 525-527 AD. It was the last Yemeni kingdom before Islam and had close ties with the Kingdom of Kinda through an alliance dating back to the 2nd century BC. The Himyarites were originally Sabaean tribes who embraced the religion…

Abu Bakr and Kajak

Al-Mansur Sayf al-Din Abu Bakr and Al-Ashraf Ala al-Din Kujuk were the first two sultans from the sons of Al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun to rule Egypt and Syria, but their reigns were very short, as the real power was wielded by Prince Qusun al-Nasiri. Al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun had designated Abu Bakr as his successor, and Sayf al-Din Abu Bakr was a handsome young man…