Part 9
Author: Harith Ubaydah
The Rise and Conquests of the Ottoman State
The origins of the Ottoman Empire trace back to a Turkmen tribe that had settled in Kurdistan during the 7th century Hijri (13th century CE). They lived as nomads in the region until the sweeping Mongol invasions led by Genghis Khan forced them to migrate. In response to the chaos engulfing Iraq and Asia Minor, Suleiman Shah—the grandfather of Osman—led his people out of Kurdistan. They eventually settled in Anatolia, choosing the city of Ahlat as their new home.
Upon the death of Suleiman Shah in 688 AH (1230 CE), leadership passed to his son, Ertuğrul. With approximately 100 families and over 400 horsemen, Ertuğrul began to advance gradually towards the northwestern frontiers of Anatolia. It was during this migration that a pivotal event occurred.
While journeying with his tribe—fleeing the threat of Mongol persecution—Ertuğrul suddenly heard the sounds of battle. Drawing nearer, he witnessed a fierce clash between Muslim forces and Byzantine Christians, with the latter gaining the upper hand. Compelled by faith and valor, Ertuğrul launched a bold and decisive attack on the Christians. His intervention changed the course of the battle, enabling the Muslims to secure a vital victory.
In recognition of his courage, Ertuğrul was granted territory on the western borders of Anatolia, adjacent to Byzantine lands. This strategic gift allowed him to continue his advance toward Roman territories and laid the groundwork for what would later become the Ottoman Empire.
Ertuğrul and his warriors soon became trusted allies of the Seljuks, aiding them in their jihad against the Byzantines. These bonds of loyalty and mutual respect remained unbroken throughout Ertuğrul’s lifetime. When he passed away in 699 AH (1299 CE), he appointed his son Osman as his successor. Osman inherited his father’s vision and continued the strategic expansion into Byzantine lands, thereby reinforcing the foundations of the empire that would bear his name.
Osman: The Founder of the Ottoman State
In 625 AH (1258 CE), the year that would mark a turning point in Islamic history, a son was born to Ertuğrul and was named Osman. It is from him that the Ottoman state derives its name. That same year, the Mongols—under the leadership of Hulagu Khan—stormed Baghdad, the illustrious capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, unleashing devastation on an unprecedented scale.
As chronicled by Ibn Kathir, the Mongols entered the city with merciless ferocity. Men, women, children, the elderly—none were spared. Citizens fled in desperation to deserts, forests, and mountain tops; others barricaded themselves in shops and homes. But the invaders set fire to doors, broke through defenses, and executed all within. Rivers of blood flowed through the streets, and the only people shown mercy were the Jews, Christians, and those who had offered refuge to the Mongols.
This calamity represented one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Muslim Ummah—an Ummah weakened by disobedience and moral decline, rendered vulnerable to humiliation and slaughter. The Tatars shed blood indiscriminately, slaughtered countless people, and plundered wealth.
Yet, in the midst of this despair, Osman was born—a symbol of divine wisdom and hope. At the very moment when the Ummah reached the depths of its weakness and humiliation, Allah decreed the birth of a leader destined to guide it toward revival and glory. From the depths of defeat emerged the seeds of resurgence, illustrating a profound spiritual truth: trials often precede triumphs.
Allah the Almighty states:
إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهْلَهَا شِيَعًا يَسْتَضْعِفُ طَائِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ يُذَبِّحُ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيِ نِسَاءَهُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ] (القصص (۴)
“Indeed, Pharaoh ˹arrogantly˺ elevated himself in the land and divided its people into ˹subservient˺ groups, one of which he persecuted, slaughtering their sons and keeping their women. He was truly one of the corruptors.” (Al-Qasas 28:4)
And in another verse:
وَنُرِيدُ أَنْ نَمُنَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ أَئِمَّةً وَنَجْعَلَهُمُ الورثين ] (القصص /٥)
“And We intended to confer favor upon those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and make them inheritors.” (Al-Qasas 28:5)
وَتَمَكِّنَ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ ) ( القصص (٦)
“And establish them in the land.”
(Al-Qasas, 28:6)
Indeed, Allah is fully capable of transforming the fate of His servants in an instant. With a single command or the blink of an eye, He can elevate the weak and grant them sovereignty.
