Al-Banū Razin and the Muslim Berber-Arab Relations in the Middle Age Andalusia

Al Banū Razin was among the prominent Berber families of Andalusia that their ancestor arrived there with Tariq ibn Ziyad. They went, firstly, to Cordoba, then to Christian borderlines and finally settled down in Albarracin, a district of Santaver. It was a military area located in thighr ‘awsat (the middle borderline) during the Umayyad era. Therefore, its residents could play a significant role in the maintaining the power of Umayyads in this area. Similar to other Berbers who were dissatisfied with the Arabs and the Umayyads, Al Banū Razin and their rulers played a dual role. Although they had submitted to the Andalusian Umayyad Caliphate, as Umayyad government was weakened in the early 5th century A.H., they declared independence and established a dominant government in Albarracin. Furthermore, to secure their interests, they never involved in the political conflicts and disputes between their neighbors at the time. However they adopted a confrontational approach towards the Umayyad caliphs. The policies taken by the Banū Razin governors prove that, similar to other Berbers, Al Banū Razin significantly contributed to the decline and collapse of the Umayyad Empire and reducing of Muslim power in Andalusia.