Tariq ibn Ziyad: The Conqueror of Andalus

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Tariq ibn Ziyad, the freed Berber slave of Musa ibn Nusayr, was responsible for bringing Islam to Andalusia. A pious and competent general, his victory ended the oppression in the Iberian peninsula, his army reaching the borders of France. This article explores his legacy, beginning with the early North African conquests, entry into Iberia and the Muslim’s victory at the Battle of Guadalete.

Islam in North Africa and the Berber Uprisings

The Muslims started to spread Islam to North Africa during the caliphate of Mu'awiya ibn Abu Sufyan. He dispatched Uqbah ibn Nafi to expand into the region under the New Islamic empire. These expeditions continued under several Umayyad caliphs. The goal was to spread Islam to the Berber tribes in the area and remove oppressive rulers.

One such ruler was Al Khaninah (the Priestess), a woman who captured most of North Africa while the Muslims were in turmoil under Abdul Malik ibn Marwan’s caliphate. However in 74 AH Hassan ibn Al Nu’man was appointed leader to conquer North Africa, taking 40,000 warriors to Carthage (modern day Tunisia). It was the largest Byzantine city, and the final outpost in North Africa. Hassan eventually conquered it in the same year. The Berbers launched uprisings which were crushed, leading to Tunis being captured. Hassan ibn Al Nu’man eventually faced Al Khaninah in a battle near the Aures Mountains, in which the Muslim force was defeated and pushed to the East.

Al Khahinah wanted to block the Muslim expansion. She ordered her soldiers to destroy cities, fortresses, cut trees and level farms. It lead to much of the population fleeing to Spain (Al Andalus). The remaining Byzantine and North African inhabitants waited for the Muslims to save them from oppression. In the year 80AH, Hassan ibn Al Nu’man battled Al Khahinah again at Aljam, eventually killing her in 82AH, liberating cities from her rule. Large numbers of Berbers embraced Islam, and the Muslim forces constructed mosques for them, leading to the establishment of a tax system, infrastructure building and military garrisons.

In 89AH, Hassan ibn Al Nu’man was replaced with Musa ibn Nusayr as the governor of North Africa under Caliph Al-Walid ibn Malik. During Musa’s time, he confronted a group of Berber rebels and defeated them. Arabs later settled in Al Maghrib (Morocco), including Musa’s freed Berber slave Tariq ibn Ziyad – a new convert to Islam. Tariq became the governor of Tanjah (Tangier) and was responsible for the Western regions. (Al Omary, 2021, 219-221).

Tariq ibn Ziyad and the Conquest of Andalus

Under Al-Walid ibn Malik's caliphate many conquests took place. The Muslim empire expanded greatly under his reign, conquering more territory than Umar ibn Al Khatab  رضي الله عنه . The Islamic Empire reached Europe, Spain and India. This was all less than a hundred years after the time of the Prophet ﷺ.

The Muslims now owned a huge part of the world, while Europe remained in the dark ages. It was this continent which Tariq ibn Ziyad ventured into, specifically Al Andalus. This region was in the Iberian Peninsula, part of modern Spain and Portugal. The people of Andalus were suffering under King Roderic, the Visigothic King of Iberia. Roderic had taken power in a political coup after the death of King Wittza in 711, depriving his sons of the throne. He severely oppressed his population, executing opposition and instilling fear to avoid dissent. The Jews and Christians living there heard about the justice of the Muslims in North Africa and wanted to join the Islamic state. They appealed to Musa ibn Nusayr for assistance. In response he appointed Tariq Ibn Ziyad to lead a military expedition with 7,000 warriors in 92 AH (711 CE). 

Tariq was helped by Count Julian, Visigoth ruler of Sabtah (Ceuta) with whom Tariq 'promised safety provided he would transport him and his companions to Andalusia.' Julian wanted revenge after his daughter was sexually assaulted by Roderic whilst she was entrusted to the court school in Toledo. In response, Julian allied with Musa ibn Nusayr by assisting Tariq ‘to cross the straits to invade Spain.’ (Collins, 1989, 26-36)

Tariq ibn Ziyad addressed his troops, inciting them to perform jihad for Allah. They launched a series of raiding parties from the south, setting up camp in the South Shore of Spain, near a mountain now named Jabal At Tariq (Gibraltar). The Visigoth forces fought a number of battles with the Muslims, leading up to the most decisive one - The Battle of Guadalete. (Al Khateeb, 2025, 63-4) 

The Battle of Guadalete

King Roderic moved south with 100,000 men and met the Muslim forces. Tariq’s army was now at 12,000 in which they clashed near Medina‑Sidonia, a southern Spanish province. It began on Sunday, 28th day of Ramadan in year 95AH and lasted 8 days. The Muslims fought valiantly, with at least 3,000 martyred. Tariq ibn Ziyad was renowned for his courage, piety and adherence to Islam. He called on the soldiers to remember Allah and fight for His sake. The Muslims defeated the larger Visigothic army in a resounding victory.

King Roderic’s defeat was due to disunity within army ranks. During his political coup, he killed many rivals. Much of his army hadn't accompanied him out of loyalty but in rivalry and ambition for rule. Roderic himself was killed, leading to the collapse of the Visigothic Kingdom. Many cities fell into Muslim hands, while Tariq’s army entered the capital, Toledo. The Muslims were encouraged by the Spanish population who knew they were just rulers. Tariq kept the expansion going, and went into Isheeliyyah (Serville) and Al Kurtubah (Cordova). He faced fierce opposition which was defeated. (Al Khateeb, 2025, 64). 

Musa ibn Nusayr’s Conquests

Musa ibn Nusayr wrote Tariq ibn Ziyad a severe letter for risking the lives of the Muslims and following his own opinion regarding the campaign. He ordered Tariq not to go beyond Cordova. Tariq had extended beyond reinforcements and Musa worried about rebellions and soldiers' safety. In 94AH Musa ibn Nusayr joined the conquests himself to provide reinforcements and proceeded to Cordova. Musa’s army separately re-conquered Seville after it rebelled, and went to new lands like Maridah (Merdia) in a months long siege which the Muslims succeeded. When Seville rebelled by breaking a peace treaty, Musa ibn Nusayr was forced to fight them for a third time. Musa later met with Tariq who’d entered Tulaitulah (Toledo) the Andalusian capital. There, Musa acquired and later gifted a decorative table in 96AH to Caliph al-Walid in Damascus who was sick at the time. (al-Baladhuri, 1916, 366)

Umayyad infighting and Governor Persecution 

Together the forces of Tariq ibn Ziyad and Musa ibn Nusayr expanded as far as Ebro Valley and Zaragoza, and between 711 and 715 brought a majority of the Iberian Peninsula under Umayyad rule. They continued until they had reached the Pyrenees, situated north of Al Andalus, forming a border with France. Musa ibn Nusayr and Tariq ibn Ziyad were later forced to return to Ash Sham on the orders of the caliph. (Al Omary, 2021, 230-1)

Caliph al-Walid was not directly involved in the Spanish conquest and was negligent of the greater empire due to a succession dispute with his brother Sulayman. The latter had been named the next caliph by their father Abdul-Malik. However al-Walid attempted to appoint his sons instead, but died in 715 and Sulayman succeeded him. The new caliph immediately stopped the expansions and punished generals loyal to his brother. This included Musa ibn Nusayr and Tariq ibn Ziyad who brought Islam to Spain and Muhammad ibn Qasim who reached the Indian subcontinent.

Musa ibn Nusayr was called before Caliph Sulayman who demanded 100,000 dinars which ended after Yazid ibn al Muhallab interceded on Musa's behalf. Musa ibn Nusayr did not get to rule Spain as he was later thrown in prison and tortured by Caliph Sulayman. (al-Baladhuri, 1916, 366). When Musa was recalled to Damascus, he entrusted his son Abdul Aziz to manage his territories. He later married Roderc’s widow Egilona, and consolidated power, ruling for three years but was assassinated in 715. Caliph Sulayman appointed another governor but was unpopular and was quickly replaced. After the caliph died, his cousin Umar ibn Abdul Aziz came into power and made Andalus prosper under his just rule. (Collins, 1989, 37)

Conclusion: Legacy and Impact

Tariq ibn Ziyad’s legacy shows how Islam can transform an unknown slave into a legendary Muslim warrior. His efforts alongside Musa ibn Nusayr brought the light of Islam to the European continent while the Umayyads expanded to North Africa and India. Tariq’s victory at the Battle of Guadalete solidified his status, yet he continued to liberate more territories until he reached French borders. Due to his efforts, Andalus gained its foundations as an Islamic land. It later became an independent state after the fall of the Umayyads, ushering in a Golden Age during its near 800 year history. 

May Allah have mercy on Tariq ibn Ziyad and Musa ibn Nusayr, allow us to learn from their legacies and sacrifices which brought Islam to Europe. Ameen.

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Bibliography

Al-Balādhurī, A. ibn Yaḥyā (1916) The Origins of the Islamic State: Being a Translation from the Arabic Accompanied with Annotations, Geographic and Historic Notes of the Kitāb Futūḥ al-Buldān. Translated by P.K. Hitti and F.C. Murgotten. New York: AMS Press.

Alkhateeb, F. (2017) Lost Islamic History: Reclaiming Muslim Civilisation from the Past. Revised and updated edn. London: Hurst & Company. 

Al Omary, A.A.I. (2021) Islamic Conquests Throughout the Ages. Riyadh: Darussalam. 

Roger Collins (1989) The Arab Conquest of Spain, 710–797. (A History of Spain). Oxford: Basil Blackwell.