The Islamic Unity in the Crusades: Obstacles and Strategies

In the middle ages, the Crusaders possessed some parts of the western territory of the Islamic world and continued their establishment until the 6th and 7th centuries. Considering religious teachings regardless of ethnic, political, and religious diversity could have played a strategic role in how Muslims faced the crusaders. The main question of the research is how Islamic unity doctrines in the three periods of the beginning, middle, and end of the crusades influenced the confrontation between Muslims and Christians? Using a descriptive-analytical method, the results of the research indicate that the application of the doctrines of unity on the Islamic side faced some obstacles such as the lack of political cohesion, ethnic diversity, religious fragmentation, and the independent activity of some paramilitary groups like The Isma'ili. Despite all that, sometimes by rereading some common religious doctrines such as the finality of the Prophet (PBUH), the comprehensiveness and superiority of the Islamic religion, the necessity of jihad against the infidels and obeying the ruler, Islamic unity has been accomplished. Changing the political structure in a convergent form with the coalition of some governments in the region by ʿImād al-Din Zangī, the integration of the ideological structure by Nūr al-Dīn Zangī and their integration by Salah al-Din Ayyūbi were the strategies that facilitated the formation of the Islamic United Front and became a model for the Mamlūk sultans.