A Comparative Study of Religious Propagation Methods in the Abbasid Caliphate and the Umayyads of al-Andalus

Abstract

This study examines the religious propagation methods of the Abbasid Caliphate and the Umayyads of al-Andalus through a comparative perspective and, using a historical-analytical approach, compares the structures, instruments, and functions of religious propagation in these two periods. The Abbasids, through the establishment of centralized governmental structures, the foundation of official religious institutions such as the Bayt al-Hikma and the Nizamiyya schools, extensive support for scholars, and the expansion of scientific centers, implemented propagation in an organized and official manner across a vast territory, resulting in religious consequences (strengthening Sunni legitimacy), scientific outcomes (translation and expansion of knowledge), and economic developments (prosperity in trade and agriculture). In contrast, the Umayyads of al-Andalus adopted a flexible and integrative approach, utilizing cultural instruments such as art, architecture, calligraphy, and congregational mosques (such as the Mosque of Córdoba), while promoting Islam in a gradual and sustainable manner through support for court elites, educational development, and interaction with a multicultural society composed of Muslims, Christians, and Jews. The findings of the study demonstrate that the success of both systems was rooted not in ideological intensity, but rather in the adaptation of propagation methods to geographical, social, and cultural conditions. The Abbasids ensured ideological cohesion across a broad domain, whereas the Umayyads guaranteed the durability of religious identity within a diverse social context. The principal research question was: “What are the structures, characteristics, and success factors of religious propagation methods among the Abbasids and the Umayyads of al-Andalus, and what similarities and differences existed between them?” The findings indicate that both systems operated on the basis of harmonizing religion, culture, and politics with their surrounding environment; however, the Abbasids relied on formal organizational structures, while the Umayyads emphasized cultural soft power, thereby presenting a model that offers lessons for the management of contemporary religious and cultural diversity.