Latest news with #UmayyadCaliphate
LBCI
14-07-2025
- General
- LBCI
The tale of the Levant: Bilad al-Sham reawakens as history echoes in Barrack's warning
Report by Wissam Nasrallah, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi From Damascus to Beirut, from Jerusalem to Amman, and stretching into parts of southern Turkey and northern Iraq—this expanse of land once shared a unified past but today stands fragmented. Historically known as the Levant or "Bilad al-Sham," the region was once the heart of the Arab world, a name that may sound unfamiliar to younger generations but carries a centuries-old, layered history. The term "Bilad al-Sham" is widely believed to have emerged in the 7th century following the Islamic conquests, particularly after the pivotal Battle of Yarmuk in 636 CE. After that victory, Damascus became the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate, which would eventually extend from the borders of India to the Iberian Peninsula in Spain. The origins of the name "al-Sham" are varied and subject to debate. One common explanation is rooted in pre-Islamic Arab geography: from the vantage point of Mecca, "Sham" referred to the north, while "Yemen" referred to the south. Another theory ties the name to Shem (or "Sam"), the son of Noah, suggests that after the flood, when the ark rested on Mount Cudi, Noah's children dispersed. Sam settled in this region, and it became known as the Land of Sam, eventually transforming over time into Bilad al-Sham. Other hypotheses trace the term even further back to Aramaic or Assyrian origins, with "Shamu" or "Shamim" meaning "sky" or "heaven." In some ancient religious beliefs, the area was known as the land of "Baalshamim," the god of the sky. Regardless of the theory, one truth remains: Bilad al-Sham is a region layered with civilizations. Prophets, kings, invaders, merchants, philosophers, and diverse peoples have all left their mark—physically and culturally. From the Roman columns of Baalbek to the walls of Jerusalem, from Nabatieh ruins buried in sand to the old houses of Damascus, the region is a living museum and an open historical archive. Yet despite its richness, the modern Levant is far removed from its storied past. Following the Sykes-Picot Agreement, the region was divided, giving rise to new borders, flags, armies, and national identities. The separations often feel deeper than the connections. Now, U.S. envoy Thomas Barak has stirred debate again, warning that if Lebanon fails to act decisively, it risks becoming, once more, a part of "Bilad al-Sham," not out of nostalgia but as a reality shaped by regional inertia.
New York Times
13-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Are We Seeing the Outlines of a New Middle East?
A video clip circulating on social media in recent months shows Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Shara, astride a handsome black horse in a sand riding ring with a few thick palm trees. He is alone, wearing a trim leather jacket, as the high-stepping horse circles within the ring. The video's soundtrack is a song glorifying the Umayyad caliphate, which ruled the Middle East in the seventh and eighth centuries. 'The Umayyads are of golden lineage; their name provoked fear in Persian kings,' the video's opening lyrics say. The actual first line from the popular song, 'I am an Arab Muslim, not an Iranian appendage,' is omitted. Still, the message comes across: Syria, no longer under Shiite Iran's influence, has returned to the hands of the country's Sunni majority. For many Arabs, that dynasty was the halcyon age of Muslim history. Starting in Damascus in A.D. 661, the Umayyads established the first Muslim kingdom, defeating the Persians as it spread into Central Asia and across North Africa over 90 years. Now, some find a distinct echo in Syria's being unshackled from Iranian dominance. The collapse of Iran's regional influence, in particular its expulsion from Syria, its main Arab ally, represents an inflection point of the kind not seen in the Middle East for more than two decades. One part of the geopolitical rebalancing could be a retreat from the overt sectarianism that has plagued the region ever since the U.S. invasion of Iraq resulted in Shiites taking control in Baghdad. With the fall of the government of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria last December, what King Abdullah II of Jordan once famously referred to as the 'Shiite Crescent' — a network of armed allies stretching from Iran, through Iraq and Syria, to Hezbollah's areas of Lebanon — disintegrated. The Assad government in Syria, a fully fledged state rather than a militia, had been the Iranians' capstone and a hub for supporting other forces in the so-called Axis of Resistance against Israel and the West. Of course, religion goes only so far in explaining what is happening in the Middle East. For years, regional powers like Iran and Saudi Arabia have used theology as a cover for material concerns. In the realignment today, political, military and economic power are at stake. That is underscored by the fact that the change has been driven not by Sunni or Shiite Muslims, but by Israel. Still, Iran, to project its influence, helped to push a sectarian agenda for years, which the Gulf Arab countries often reciprocated. Iran is unlikely to be able to do that again soon. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
India.com
01-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Pakistan Army's Rawalpindi HQ, where General Munir is plotting against India, is linked to Rajasthani Rajput king, the Pakistani city is named after…
Rawalpindi, where Pakistan Army headquarters are located, is named after 8th century Rajput king Maharana Bappa Rawal. (AI generated/File) Pakistan Army: The tensions between India and Pakistan have reached a fever pitch after the heinous Pahalgam terror attack, and the possibility of a full-scale India-Pakistan war is becoming more real with each passing day. But did you know that that Rawalpindi-based headquarters of the Pakistan Army, where General Asim Munir, the country's hardline army chief, is plotting devious plans against India, has a strong connection to the erstwhile Indian Rajput kingdom? History of Rawalpindi and Pakistan Army HQ According to historians, the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Chakala, Rawalpindi, which serves as the command center of the Pakistan Army, has a history which is over 1200 years old. The Army GHQ, considered by many as the 'real' power in Pakistan, is closely linked to the Rajput kings of Rajasthan, India. In a video which has gone viral on X (former Twitter), Pakistani author Sajjad Azhar claims that the location where the Pakistan Army HQ stands today, housed a military post built centuries ago by Hindu Rajput kings of India. After the 1947 partition, the spot became the headquarters of the Pakistani Army. Everyone knows Rawalpindi is father of Pakistan. But very few know that Maharana Bappa Rawal (ancestor of the great Maharana Pratap) was father of Rawalpindi. You can't fight your fathers, Asim Munir @ — Pakistan Untold (@pakistan_untold) April 29, 2025 Rawalpindi post built by Rajput king Azhar claims that the first military post in Rawalpindi was built in the 8th century by Raja Bappa Rawal, the Rajput King of the Mewar Kingdom which ruled Rajasthan and its surrounding regions at the time. The city's name, Rawalpindi, also comes from King Bappa Rawal, who is said to have chased away invading forces from Arabia and Iran. As per historians, Bappa Rawal defeated Muhammad ibn al-Qasim, who led the Umayyad Caliphate's campaigns in India. The Rajput king won a major war against the invading Umayyad Caliphate forces in 712 AD, forcing al-Qasim to flee to Iran. After his victory, Bappa Rawal ordered to establish a military post every 100 miles, one of which was the encampment in Rawalpindi. While a majority of such military establishment built in the medieval or pre-medieval era have withered away due to the ravages of time, the Rawalpindi military post stood till 1947 partition, as none, including the Mughals or the British, removed it due to its strategic position. The post still stands in a way, though not in the same form obviously), as it serves as headquarters of the Pakistan Army.
