The founder of the city of Oujda, historically known as Wajda, is Abd al-Mu’min ibn Alī al-Kūmī, commonly referred to as Abd al-Mu’min. He was a prominent Berber military leader and the first caliph of the Almohad Caliphate, which was a Berber Muslim empire that dominated North Africa and Southern Spain during the 12th and 13th centuries. Oujda, situated in northeastern Morocco near the Algerian border, owes its origins to Abd al-Mu’min’s strategic vision and military campaigns.
Abd al-Mu’min played a pivotal role in the rise of the Almohad movement, which sought to reform Islamic society and establish a puritanical state based on strict adherence to Sunni Islam. He initially served as a commander under the Almoravid dynasty, the ruling Berber-Muslim empire in the western Maghreb and Al-Andalus (Islamic Spain), but later broke away to establish the Almohad Caliphate.
After defeating the Almoravids in a series of battles, Abd al-Mu’min consolidated his power and expanded the territory under Almohad control. As part of his efforts to fortify his realm and secure strategic positions, he founded several cities, including Oujda. The exact year of Oujda’s founding is not definitively documented, but it likely occurred during the late 12th century.
Oujda’s geographical location was of significant importance due to its proximity to the frontier with the neighboring Zirid dynasty, centered in what is now Algeria. Its strategic position facilitated trade routes, military defenses, and administrative control over the region. As a newly established city, Oujda served as a vital center for the Almohad Caliphate’s governance, military operations, and economic activities.
Abd al-Mu’min’s establishment of Oujda contributed to the expansion and consolidation of Almohad authority in the Maghreb and beyond. Under subsequent Almohad rulers, the city continued to prosper and develop as an integral part of the empire’s administrative and cultural network. Its importance persisted even after the decline of the Almohad Caliphate, as Oujda remained a key urban center in the region.
Over the centuries, Oujda has witnessed various historical events, cultural exchanges, and periods of prosperity and decline. Its rich heritage reflects the diverse influences of Berber, Arab, Andalusian, and other civilizations that have shaped its identity. Today, Oujda is the capital of the Oriental Region in Morocco and serves as an important hub for trade, education, and tourism in the northeastern part of the country. Its historical significance as a city founded by Abd al-Mu’min endures, contributing to its status as a place of heritage and cultural heritage in the Maghreb.
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Abd al-Mu’min ibn Alī al-Kūmī, commonly known as Abd al-Mu’min, was not only the founder of Oujda but also a significant historical figure in the context of the medieval Maghreb and Al-Andalus. Born in the early 12th century in what is now Algeria, Abd al-Mu’min rose to prominence as a military leader during a period of political instability and conflict in the region.
Abd al-Mu’min’s early career saw him serving under the Almoravid dynasty, which had established a vast empire stretching from present-day Morocco to Spain. However, dissatisfaction with the Almoravid rulers’ perceived deviation from orthodox Islamic principles, coupled with his own ambitions for leadership, prompted Abd al-Mu’min to rebel against them.
In 1130, Abd al-Mu’min declared himself the leader of a new religious and political movement known as the Almohads. The Almohad movement preached a return to the fundamentals of Islam and sought to overthrow the Almoravid rulers. Abd al-Mu’min’s military prowess and charisma attracted widespread support, particularly among the Berber tribes of North Africa.
The Almohad forces, under Abd al-Mu’min’s leadership, scored several decisive victories against the Almoravids, eventually culminating in the capture of Marrakesh, the Almoravid capital, in 1147. This marked the end of Almoravid rule and the establishment of the Almohad Caliphate, with Abd al-Mu’min as its first caliph.
As part of his efforts to consolidate Almohad power and extend the caliphate’s influence, Abd al-Mu’min embarked on a series of military campaigns and administrative reforms. He founded numerous cities and fortresses strategically positioned to control key trade routes, maintain internal stability, and defend against external threats.
Oujda, situated in northeastern Morocco near the border with Algeria, was one of the cities founded by Abd al-Mu’min during this period. Its location made it an important center for trade and military operations, serving as a gateway between the Maghreb and the eastern regions of the Islamic world.
The founding of Oujda contributed to the expansion of Almohad authority in the region and facilitated the integration of newly conquered territories into the caliphate’s administrative structure. The city’s strategic significance was further underscored by its proximity to the Zirid dynasty, a rival Berber state based in Algeria.
Under Abd al-Mu’min’s leadership, Oujda flourished as an urban center, attracting settlers, traders, and scholars from diverse backgrounds. The city’s population grew, and its economy thrived, supported by agriculture, commerce, and artisanal production.
Abd al-Mu’min’s reign marked a period of relative stability and prosperity for the Almohad Caliphate, which reached its zenith under his successors. However, internal divisions, external pressures, and socio-economic challenges eventually led to the decline of the Almohad empire in the late 12th and early 13th centuries.
Despite the eventual demise of the Almohads, Oujda continued to be an important regional center, retaining its cultural and economic significance over the centuries. The city’s historical legacy as one of the foundations of the Almohad Caliphate endures to this day, contributing to its identity as a place of historical and cultural importance in the Maghreb.