Amir al-Muslimin ('commander of the Muslims', Almoravid title)

أمير المسلمين (لقب المرابطين)

Amir al-Muslimin, 'lord of the Muslims', was first assumed by the Almoravids to distinguish it from amir al-mu'minin. The Almoravids recognized the Abbasids' supremacy and did not wish to take the caliphal title, so they set up a kind of sub-caliphate with a title of their own 1.

Depth

At a glance

Era
Abbasid Fragmentation
Region
Maghreb · al-Andalus & Europe
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Origin

The Almoravids first assumed the title amir al-Muslimin, in contradistinction to amir al-mu'minin, which had been borne by the independent dynasties. They recognized the supremacy of the 'Abbasids and did not wish to take the caliphs' title, so they established a kind of sub-caliphate with a title of their own. 1

Later use

Afterwards the African and Spanish princes bore either the one title or the other, according as they sought an independent caliphate or recognized any supremacy. 1

Sources

  1. Encyclopaedia of Islam, 2nd edition (Leiden: Brill, 1954–2008), 13 volumes , vol. 1 p. 467
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Amir al-Muslimin ('commander of the Muslims', Almoravid title)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/amir-al-muslimin/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-25.

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