Nur ibn Mujahid

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Nur ibn Mujahid ibn ‘Ali ibn ‘Abdullah al Dhuhi Suha (literally "the morning star"; died 1567) was Emir of Harar in the 16th century. He belonged to the Ahl Suhawyan clan of the Somali tribe of Marehan, Darod group. Marrying the widow of Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi (also known as Ahmad Gragn), he also succeeded him as leader of the Muslim forces of fighting Christian Ethiopia.

Considered the patron saint of Harar, he was called the Sahib al-Fath at-Thani, or Master of the Second Conquest. When Imam Ahmed, the leader of the Muslim expansion into Ethiopia, which began in 1527, was killed in 1543, the Muslim forces fell back in confusion upon Harar. Nur, the dead leader’s sister’s son, married Ahmad Gragn’s firebrand widow, Bati del Wanbara, and undertook to renew the fortunes of the Muslim city, which had been sacked in 1550. Named Emir in about 1550-51, he spent the next two years reorganizing his forces, and construction the wall which still surrounds the city.

In 1554-55, Nur departed on a Jihad, or Holy War, in the eastern Ethiopian lowlands of Bale, and Hadiya. In 1559, he invaded Fatagar, where he fought against the Ethiopian emperor Galawdewos, and killed him in battle. Nur continued fighting for 12 years until, according to legend, at Gibe he said "Kaffa!", or "Enough!", and returned to Harar. Some believe the province is called Kaffa for this reason.

During Nur’s absence, Harar witnessed internal power struggles, and the unlucky city was disturbed by encroaching Oromo tribes. It was at this time that the walls of Harar were bult; tradition attributes them to Nur ibn Mujahid with the help of two chiefs, Ahu Abadir and Ahu 'Ali. By 1567, repeated Oromo raids had brought famine to the city. Nur left the city for three months on a punitive raid against the invaders. On his return he found an epidemic afflicting Harar, and he himself died of typhus that year.

Contemporaries described Nur as a man of noble conduct, who was just, strong, and highly principled. Besides the wall which protected its inhabitants from invaders over the following centuries, he was noted for a number of buildings he erected in Harar. His tomb stands on a hill surrounded by houses and courtyards, and is popular place of pilgrimage in Harar.

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