Miknasa
مكناسة
Miknasa of the Zanata, tent-dwelling Berbers of the Malwiyya, Karsif, Sijilmasa and Habat lands; the folk of Sijilmasa's site embraced the Sufrite creed early in Islam and founded the city in 140 AH, whence their two states — Banu Wasul and Banu Abi al-Afiya, kings of Tasul and Fez — until the Maghrawa and then the Almoravids overwhelmed them.
At a glance
- Era
- The Umayyad Period · The Early Abbasid Caliphate · Abbasid Fragmentation · The Buyid, Fatimid and Seljuk Era
- Region
- Maghreb
- Review
- Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it
Overview
Miknasa is a branch of the Zanata, one of the Berber tribes. Ibn Khaldun says that they were nomads in the lands of Mulayya, Kirsif, Sijilmasa and al-Habt. 1
In Ibn Khaldun
The people of Sijilmasa from among them professed at the beginning of Islam the Safriyya doctrine of the Kharijites, and founded the city of Sijilmasa in the year 140 AH. They had two states, the Banu Wasul and the Banu Abi al-Afiya, kings of Tasul and Fez. Then their leadership was divided during the strife of the Maghrib, until the power of the Maghrawa grew over them, and then the Almoravid state came. 1
Sources
- Kitab al-Ibar of Ibn Khaldun
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Miknasa”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/group/miknasa/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-17.