The Political Role of the Ulama in Al-Andalus: An Analytical Study of Religious Leadership and Statecraft in Muslim Spain

Abstract

This research article explores the political role of the Ulama (Islamic scholars) in Muslim Spain (Al-Andalus), focusing on how religious leadership intersected with statecraft across different historical periods. From the establishment of the Umayyad Emirate in Córdoba to the final days of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, the Ulama played crucial roles not only in religious and judicial affairs but also in shaping political discourse, legitimizing rulers, mediating conflicts, and influencing administrative reforms. By analyzing historical chronicles, biographical dictionaries, and fatwa literature, this study examines the complex relationship between knowledge and power, highlighting how the authority of the Ulama often extended beyond the pulpit and the madrasa into the court and the battlefield. It argues that their political engagement was both strategic and principled, aimed at preserving social cohesion, Islamic identity, and ethical governance during times of internal strife and external threats. The paper contributes to a deeper understanding of Islamic political thought in a European context and sheds light on the legacy of the Andalusian Ulama in the broader narrative of Islamic history.