Global Arab Network | Kairouan .. the capital of Islamic Culture for 2009

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Kairouan .. the capital of Islamic Culture for 2009

Global Arab Network - - Maha Karim

Tuesday, 28 April 2009 13:11

Kairouan is the capital of Islamic Culture for 1430 of Hegira, 2009 AD, following a resolution of the 4th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers held in December 2004 in Algiers, and as proposed by the Islamic Scientific, Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (ISESCO).
The opening of the event: "Kairouan, Capital of Islamic Culture" on March 8, 2009, as part of an official ceremony held at Okba Mosque, with attendance of outstanding national and international guest and figures; The opening of the event coincides with the celebration of the Mouled Feast.

This decision represents an acknowledgement of the importance of Kairouan as a capital of Arab-Islamic culture in the Maghreb and the Africa region.

It is also a decision that falls in line with the ambitious programme prepared by ISESCO to highlight the cultural and civilisational contributions of cities that have played a remarkable role in spreading the Islamic religion and expanding the influence of Islamic culture and civilisation. In fact, Kairouan was the starting point of the spreading of Prophet Mohammed’s message in the Maghreb region.

An imposing show held on March 10 to launch over 100 arts and cultural activities which are to mark this event throughout 2009.

Most of these activities, which include symposia and are to cover all cultural and arts expressions, will be held in Kairouan and the rest in other Tunisian cities as well as abroad, notably in France (the Institute of Arab World in Paris), Spain (Cordoba) and Algeria.

Kairouan is the first capital of Islam in Ifriqiyya and Andalusia. Since its foundation by Oqba Ibn Nafaa, the capital of Aghlabides has achieved a great civilisational and intellectual radiance, as shown by its monuments and its historical contribution to the Arab-Islamic civilisation.

Here follow the main stages of this historical city:

• 670 AD: Foundation of Kairouan by Okqa Ibn Nafaa to serve as a common denominator for Muslims around the world.

The construction works lasted four years to establish the foundations for a new town on a strategic site for the army of the Islamic conquest.

The word Kairouan means the army’s resting place. The various military campaigns that followed the conquest of Kairouan went through this site.

• From year 800 to 900, Ibn Ibrahim Al-Tamimi Aghleb founded an emirate whose capital was Kairouan. The Aghlabides’ era is considered as the city’s guilded age.

Indeed, the Aghlabides built ramparts and mosques. Their souks and trades flourished then. They also built reservoirs and dug basins for their water needs. The intellectual movement experienced a great vitality during the era. The Aghlabide capital was a cultural hub with figures of great prominence, such as Assad Ibn Fourat (759-828) and Imam Sahnoun Ibn Said (776-854).

• 878: Foundation of Beit al-Hikma in Raqqada, the first university of sciences in Ifriqiyya and in the Maghreb.

Prominent professors taught there, such as writer and poet Ibn Sayegh, Dr. Isaac Ben Omrane, author of the treaty on melancholy and Ahmed Ibn Al-Jazzar, author of "Zed El Moussafir.”

Beit al-Hikma translated several works from Latin and Greek into Arabic, in addition to its holding scientific debates and disseminating medical sciences, philosophy and astronomy.

The Aghlabide dynasty ruled Kairouan until 909. The eleven Emirs of that dynasty were in succession:

1- Ibrahim Ibn Al Aghleb (800 AD- 811 AD)

2- Abdallah Ben Ibrahim (811-816)

3- Ziedet Allah Ben Ibrahim (816-837)

4- Abu oukal Al Aghleb Ben Ibrahim (837-840)

5- Mohamed Ben Abi Oukal Al Aghleb Abou Al Abbès (840-856)

6- Ahmed Ben Mohamed (856-863)

7- Ziedet Allah II Ben Mohamed (863-864)

8- Mohamed Ben Ahmed (864-874)

9- Ibrahim Ben Ahmed (874-902)

10- Abdallah Ben Ibrahim (902-903)

11-Ziedallah III Ben Abdallah (903-909)

Ziedallah III failed to dam the Fatimide invasion, despite the Abassid Kalifa’s assistance.

The Aghlabides pledged allegiance to his cousin Ibrahim Ibn Abi Al-Aghleb that could not also save the dynasty.

The Fatimides then took power in Kairouan and Ifriqiyya by the end of 909. Despite the collapse of the Aghlabide state, Kairouan preserved its religious, spiritual and intellectual development role, during the Fatimide era (909-976) and Sanhaji’s reign (1121-1148). It had held an outstanding position at the time when the Ottomans came to Tunisia, in 1574.

The Aghlabide capital remains a place of culture and religion today, particularly since the advent of the Change of November 7, 1987, which has lent interest to culture, religion and the Islamic reform thinking entrenched in our identity, open to dialogue of religions and civilisations; and it has promoted the values of tolerance and the golden mean.

Kairouan is currently experiencing a real town planning and a cultural development boom, while preserving the historical monuments that reflect its glory.

Global Arab Network

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