Umar Din
Encyclopedia
Umar Din (r. 1526–1553) was a Sultan
of the Sultanate of Adal
. He was the brother of Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad
.
Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi
after he killed Umar Din's brother Abu Bakr in 1526, and ruled at least until the Imam was killed in battle in 1542. Although Trimingham describes the Sultan as the Imam's puppet, the Futuh al-Habasa of Sihab ad-Din records that the Sultan and the Imam quarrelled over the distribution of the alms tax at some point between the Battle of Shimbra Kure
and the Battle of Amba Sel
, which led to Imam Ahmad leaving Harar
to live amongst the Somalis
in Zarba for some time. This suggests Umar Din wielded some power of his own.
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
of the Sultanate of Adal
Adal Sultanate
The Adal Sultanate or the Kingdom of Adal was a medieval multi-ethnic Muslim state located in the Horn of Africa.-Overview:...
. He was the brother of Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad
Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad
Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad was a Sultan of the Sultanate of Adal. The historian Richard Pankhurst credits Abu Bakr with founding the city of Harar, which he made his military headquarters in 1520.-Reign:...
.
Reign
Umar Din was made sultan by ImamImam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi
Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi
Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi "the Conqueror" was an Imam and General of Adal who invaded Ethiopia and defeated several Ethiopian emperors, wreaking much damage on that kingdom...
after he killed Umar Din's brother Abu Bakr in 1526, and ruled at least until the Imam was killed in battle in 1542. Although Trimingham describes the Sultan as the Imam's puppet, the Futuh al-Habasa of Sihab ad-Din records that the Sultan and the Imam quarrelled over the distribution of the alms tax at some point between the Battle of Shimbra Kure
Battle of Shimbra Kure
The Battle of Shimbra Kure was fought in March of 1529 between the forces of Adal led by Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi, and the Ethiopian army, under Dawit II . Despite being outnumbered, the followers of Imam Ahmad prevailed, and were in control of the field at the end of the battle. Both...
and the Battle of Amba Sel
Battle of Amba Sel
The Battle of Amba Sel was fought on October 28, 1531 between the Ethiopians under their Emperor Dawit II, and the forces of Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi of the Adal Sultanate. Imam Ahmed won the battle at Amba Sel, and his troops afterwards crossed the Walaqa River....
, which led to Imam Ahmad leaving Harar
Harar
Harar is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division of Ethiopia...
to live amongst the Somalis
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
in Zarba for some time. This suggests Umar Din wielded some power of his own.