144 NaniGelovani Tiflis Muslims In Foreign Sources

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Tbilisi Mosques in Georgian and Foreign Sources
Nani Gelovani*
Abstract
In the VII century, along with the spread of Islam, mosques appeared in the provinces
conquered by the Arabs. The first congregational mosque in the Caucasus was built in
Derbent and became one of the important centres for the spread of Islam and the
Arabic language. Reports from Arab and Persian geographers and travellers confirm
the construction of congregational mosques next to Christian churches in the major
cities of Armenia (for example, Khlat, Dvin, Barda, Derbend, Kabalak, Manzikert,
Shirvan, Shaki). Arab geographer al-Muqaddasi (born c. 946-died c. 1000), points to
the existence of mosques not only in the central cities of Armenia. According to various
sources, the congregational mosques stood both in the city and the suburbs. Orientalist
A. Shaginyan maintains, "despite all our efforts, we have not found any information in
the Muslim literature about the construction of a congregational mosque in the centre
of Tbilisi, as in the case of Dvini or Bardavi." Although none of the mosques survived
in Tbilisi, many facts testify to their existence. The establishment of the Emirate, and
of a Muslim administr…

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Nani Gelovani
Arapça'nın yayılması bakımından önemli merkez haline geldi. Arap ve Fars coğrafyacı
ile gezginlerin kaynaklarında Arminiya'nın büyük kentlerinde kiliseler yanında
camilerin inşa edildiğine dair bilgilere rastlanmaktadır. Arap coğrafyacı ve gezgin
Mukaddesî (946/7-takriben 1000) camilerin Arminiya'nın merkezi kentleri (Hlat,
Dvin, Barda, Derbend, Kabalak, Manaskert, Şirvan, Şak) yanısıra diğer bölgelerde
de bulunduğunu kaydetmiştir. Camilerin kentler yanısıra banliyolerde de bulunduğu
çeşitli kaynaklara dayanılarak tespit edilmiştir. Doğu bilimcisi ve tarihçi A.K.
Shaginian "İslam literatüründe Dvin ile Bardav aksine Tiflis merkezinde camilerin
inşa edildiğine dair bilgilere tüm gayretlerimize rağmen rastlayamadık" diye yazmıştır.
VII.-XII. yüzyıllar camilerinden hiçbiri Tiflis'te günümüze ulaşmadıysa da birçok
olay camilerin mevcut olduğunu göstermektedir. Emirliğin kurulması ve Tiflis ile
emirliğin diğer kentlerinde (örnek olarak Dmanisi'de) Müslüman idari birliklerinin
oluşması (kentleri halife tarafından atanan Arap memurları yönetiyordu) camilerin
inşa edilmesi zaruretini gündeme getirdi. Tiflis'te en eski caminin, Arapların idari
merkezinin bulunduğu bölgede-k…

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Tbilisi Mosques in Georgian and Foreign Sources
47
of the future tribute and accompanied his representative to the Ambassador of
Kartli with a book of inviolability. Then the Arab commander himself entered
Tbilisi and proved to the people of Kartli the famous "Letter of Protection".
The treaty between the Caliphate and the inhabitants of Tbilisi was evidently
signed under the Caliph Uthman b. 'Affan (644-656) towards the end of 654 or
655. According to the terms of the "letter of Protection", the Arabs were initially
known for their tolerance of Christians and other religious communities. The
"letter of Protection" promised the people of Tbilisi the inviolability of their
identity, property, churches, sanctuaries, prayers and faith.
The Arab commander sent 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Jaz' al-Sulami, a scholar of Islam
and the Qur'an, to explain to the Georgians the Islamic realities that were foreign
and incomprehensible to them. Turkish historian Zakaria Kitapci suggests that,
religious scholars and Qur'anic reciters were sent to the newly conquered areas
to Islamize, to teach Islam to the new Muslims, to circumcise them, and to build
mosques in those areas and al-Sulami was also responsib…

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Nani Gelovani
well, enjoying a number of privileges and allowances granted by the Georgian
kings. Although Muslims ruled and resided in Tbilisi for centuries, regrettably, our
knowledge about them is scanty.
Mosques in Tbilisi in the 7th-13th Centuries
In the VII century, along with the spread of Islam, mosques appeared in the
provinces conquered by the Arabs. The first congregational mosque in the
Caucasus was built in Derbent and became one of the important centres for
the spread of Islam and the Arabic language. According to Arab geographers,
the congregational mosques stood both in the city and the suburbs. The earliest
congregational Mosque in Tbilisi must have been built in the VII - VIII centuries
in the area where the Arab administrative centre was located on the road from
the sulphur baths to the botanical garden, approximately in the place where the
only remaining mosque in Tbilisi now stands. Reports from Arab and Persian
geographers and travellers confirm the construction of congregational mosques
next to Christian churches in the major cities of Armenia. Arab geographer al-
Muqaddasi points to the existence of mosques not only in the central cities of
Armenia. Howev…

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Tbilisi Mosques in Georgian and Foreign Sources
49
3. The establishment of the Emirate, and of a Muslim administration in Tbilisi
and other cities of the Emirate (the city was ruled by Arab officials appointed
directly by the Caliph), necessitated the construction of mosques. The Muslim
population of Tbilisi was a higher social stratum of the city and its representative,
ra'is ("chief"; "leader"), was represented at amir's court. In Tbilisi, there were
specific positions typical of a Muslim city, such as qadi and muhtasib (a supervisor
of bazaars and trade). The first information about the icons of Tbilisi can be
found only in the XII century. According to Arab historian Ibn al-Athir, the Tbilisi
population, besieged by David IV in 1122 sent khatib (a person who delivers the
sermon - khutbah) and qadi to negotiate with the king; Among the Muslim clerics,
who were revered by David IV and Demetre I, was the khatib of Tbilisi. Qadi was
closely associated with the governance of the Muslim city, and as a judge of the
Muslims (his jurisdiction included civil and criminal cases), the judge also enjoyed
great influence. Noteworthy is the fact that the qadi chose to work mainly in the
mosqu…