Adal Sultanate

Abstract

Abstract The Adal Sultanate is one of the oldest Islamic sultanates in the Horn of Africa. The sultanate was founded by Sa'duddin in the early days of Islam, around the late 9th or early 10th century, based at Zayla or Zeila on the Gulf of Aden. Zayla gave access to the caravan routes in the Horn of Africa as far as Bali in the Upper Juba valley, and connected the trade routes across the Red Sea to southern Arabia and Southeast Asia. Ibn Battuta visited Zayla in 1330 and described it as a large town with an important market. The Adalite imams played a significant role in the spread of Islam in East Africa. Their epic story took place during the imamate of Ahmad Gurey “the left‐handed” (1506–1543), who conquered three‐quarters of Abyssinia in the mid‐15th century. However, Abyssinia recovered with the support of Portugal and in 1543 killed Imam Ahmad. Thus, the Adalite army retreated and the sultanate was eclipsed.