Jihad: An Instrument of Legitimizing the Power in Alawi Morocco (XVII–XVIII)

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Keywords: jihad; Morocco; sharifs; ‘ulama; legitimation; the Alawi dynasty

To cite this article

Solovyeva D.V. Jihad: An Instrument of Legitimizing the Power in Alawi Morocco (XVII–XVIII). // Lomonosov Oriental Studies Journal. 2017. N 2, p.48–62

Solovyeva D.V. (Lomonosov Moscow State University)

Abstract

The article is focused on the role of jihad in the social and political life of Morocco in the XVII–XVIII centuries as one of the main factors of legitimacy of the Alawi dynasty (since 1631). A study of historical sources allows us to suppose that the European presence in the Moroccan lands since the XV century had a serious impact on the religious life of the Islamic Far West. Using of the ideology of jihad the sultans succeeded to gain popularity among their subjects, primarily among the traditional Islamic scholars. They also tried to justify their different political and economic outlines by needs of the holy war.