The Conquest of Abyssinia: Futuh Al Habasa

by Sihab ad-Din Ahmad bin Abd al-Qader bin Salem bin Utman, Shihab Al-Din Arabfaqih, Paul Lester Stenhouse (Translator)

Sihab ad-Din Ahmad bin 'Abd al-Qader's account of the early sixteenth century Jihad, or holywar, in Ethiopia, of Imam Ahmad bin Ibrahim, better known as Ahmad Gran, or the Left handed, is an historical classic. The Yamani author was an eyewitness of several of the battles he describes, and is an invaluable source. His book, which is full of human, and at times tragic, drama, makes a major contribution to our knowledge of a crucially important period in the hisoty of Ethiopia and Horn of Africa. 'Futuh al-Habasa, ' or 'Conquest of Abyssinia' - which undoubtedly reflects the situation as it seemed to its Yamani author at the time of its composition. The forces of Imam Ahmad bin Ibrahim had occupied the greater part of Ethiopia. The resistance of Emperor Lebna Dengel had virtually come to an end, and many Christians had chosen to convert to Islam. The victorious Imam's regime seemed there to stay. This was, however, far from the end of the story. The Imam was killed in battle on February 21, 1543, whereupon his army almost immediately disintegrated. Those of his soldiers who could do so made their way back to the East. Not a few Muslim converts reverted to their former faith. The Futuh thus refers to a relatively short, though crucially important, period in Ethiopia's long history. The book is nevertheless valuable, in that its author was an eye-witness of many of the events he describes, and writes, as far as we can judge, with a degree of objectivity rare for his time. What people say about this "This book is the first ever complete English translation of the Arabic account on the campaigns of Imam Ahmad b. Ibrahim al-Ghazi (popularly known as Gran) as written by the Yemeni jurist, Shihab al-din Ahmad b. Abd al-Qadir b. Salim b. Uthman (also known as Arab Faqih)... it is a welcome addition to the rich corpus of Arabic literary and historical sources relevant to the sixteenth-century Ethiopia and the Horn. It is particularly useful for English-speaking researchers and established scholars who cannot read either the Arabic text or the authoritative French translation prepared by Rene Basset...both Stenhouse and Pankhurst, and the publisher, deserve high commendation, respectively, for producing such a valuable work that represents a major contribution to the history of Ethiopia and the Horn, and for making it available to the wider English-speaking readership and scholarship." -- Hussein Ahmed is a Professor of History at Addis Ababa University. He is a leading historian of Islam in Ethiopia. * * * "In the history of conflict in Africa and beyond, "few stories of drama and human tragedy equal" Imama Ahmad's conquest of the Christian kingdom of Ethiopia (1529-1543). His short lived spectacular victories and determination to replace Christianity by Islam and the remarkable survival of Christianity in Ethiopia" is a story of epic proportions" which still generates strong emotion among both the Christian and the Muslim population of Ethiopia. In other words, Imam Ahmad's jihadic war besides being legendary was a major turning point... This is truly a wonderful work, which is destined to remain an indispensable source for the history of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa during the first half of the tumultuous sixteenth century. Anyone interested in understanding the intensity and brutality of religious war will be rewarded by reading this classic." -- Mohammed Hassen is an Associate Professor of African history at Georgia State University in Atlanta. He is the author of The Oromo of A History 1570-1860.

Genres: Ethiopia

444 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Habeeb Akande · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice translation of the historical text. The book is a very good source for anyone interested in campaigns of Imam Ahmad b. Ibrahim al-Ghazi and East African history.

[Hamza · Rating 3 out of 5]

At long last, after seven months(!) of reading on and off, I've finally completed this text. Aside from life getting in the way, it took me so long to read because it became a bit of a chore. The text details the conquest of Abyssinia by Adal Sultanate leader Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (Ahmad Gurey to Somalis, Graññ to Amhara) and his soldiers as documented by an Arab follower of his. Despite how epic this may sound, the text is a bit repetitive and, as older Arab-penned histories tend to be, a bit dull. It includes details of every battle, which usually consists of the Adal army fighting the Christians of Ethiopia and conquering a territory, then taking booty and captives.

I had a problem with a lot of the un-Islamic behavior Imam Ahmad used on these people, such as beheading female captives, burning churches, and other such things that would today be considered war crimes. Nonetheless, the text was somewhat enjoyable. Pick it up if you're more able to connect with a book than I currently am, but be warned that it's not exactly a page-turner.

[Ayaanle Hori areh · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you closely read Shihabudin's Futux al-Xabasha you wouldn't need to read G. R.R Martin's Game of Thrones. This epic narrative on Imam Axmed's grand ambition to conquer Christian Abyssina -in once & for all military style conquest - is classic treasure. It's peopled by an over 500 characters of every hue i.e from petty thieves to unworldly monks/sheikhs to cunning slaves to coward king. What gives his book it's historiographical singularity, it's sui generis is Shihabudin's restless impulse to have the story of the otherside. How many hours did he spend on having interviews with "former" (Habasha) Christians so as to learn how the events were unfolding before their eyes?!
What really baffles me is how the main title is usually skipped over the subtitle when Shihabudin claimed in the last paragraph that he aptly titled his first volume as "Tuxfati Samaan".
What is the point of reading Futux al-Xabasha not only as a genre of Futux (which we often do) but also as a mode of Tuxfaat?!

[Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally managed to finish the book after losing it in 2016 and finding it again recently. Quite ironic how it coincided with the current Ethiopian issue but it really makes you wonder. Arab Faqih was a bit repetitive at times but made a great effort to tell each battle in detail and the character of our Imam. Ahmed Gurey was a man on a mission to destroy the expansionist imperialistic Empire and sought no one’s help but God. He was motivated, a tough leader, and most importantly principled. They don’t make men like him anymore. Only reason I’m giving it a 4 instead of 5 was because of repititveness and it stops halfway through the Futuh. Didn’t get to read about Cristavao Da Gama or Nur’s succession. Nonetheless great book.

[Jestora (muaad) the poet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice window into the life of Ahmad Guray. Someone I’ve wanted to read about for a while. The author is clearly riddled in bias (which is only natural for writers of that period) and the end of the book was very repetitive. Yet, this is a first hand witness which makes it interesting but it’s made Ahmad Guray feel even more mysterious than before I read about him. I also disagree with the authors claim that he (Ahmad Guray) wasn’t a Somali since I have knowledge from oral history that opposes this. But I could be wrong.


Would have been 3 stars but it’s 4 because it’s an eye witness account.

[Ikram Abdiaziz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was helpful thanks🤗