A Amazigh hero cursed by Arab history books.. What did 'Kassila' do? (Axel)
"Axel" or "Kassila" is considered one of the most prominent Amazigh figures who were not treated fairly by academic curricula in the Maghreb countries, although he is one of the men who left an impact on the history of the region, according to the testimony of a number of researchers in the field of Amazigh culture.
The importance of "Kassila" in the history of the Maghreb region stems from his being one of the most prominent Amazigh figures who stood up to the entry of the Umayyad state into the region, as he fought fierce battles against Uqba ibn Nafi during the sixth century AD, and defended the Amazigh identity in front of the Umayyad state.
Historical accounts differ between those who say that "Axel" died a Muslim or otherwise, but what is proven in history books is that he was a direct factor in the killing of Uqba bin Nafeh and a large part of the latter's army.
What do researchers say about the Amazigh culture about "Kassila"?
" Axel, not Kasila"
The researcher in Amazigh culture, Ahmed Assid, confirms that the real name of “Kassila” is “Axel”, which means “tiger” in the Amazigh language, while he states that “the origin of the first name is Arabic, and it came in order to mock him, after he revealed the truth A number of personalities coming from the East.
Assid said, in a statement to Aswat Magharebia, that "Axel was defeated at first by an obstacle, and became one of his entourage, but he was insulted and humiliated." with a campaign against the Umayyads, as a result of which Ibn Nafeh was killed, and Kusaila returned to Kairouan as king for five years.
The same speaker stressed that the story of "Islam Kusayla" is incorrect, citing his union with Queen Dihya, "whom a number of Arabs describe as a priestess, because they did not accept their defeat in front of her and said that she was a witch," in the words of Assid, who explained that "the victories that have been achieved During the reign of Dehya and Kuseila, she preserved the independence of North Africa for a period, before launching a campaign against the region and killing Dehya.
Assid stressed that the school curricula in the Maghreb countries "paint an ideal picture of Oqba Ben Nafie, in contrast to the complete absence of Axel."
?As a Muslim
At a time when the researcher, Ahmed Assid, confirmed that the issue of Kusaila's conversion to Islam is nothing but a "myth", Professor of Contemporary History at the Algerian University of Oran, Rabah Lounisi, denied this, stressing that "the tribe of this Amazigh leader converted to Islam before the Umayyad entry into North Africa."
Lonisi added, in his statement to Aswat Magharebia, that "the Kusaila tribe embraced the Islam of justice, but the Umayyads were invaders with a religious cover," noting that Uqba bin Nafeh "insulted and despised him, and after that the conflict became political, not religious."
In order to prove Kusila's "Islam," the Algerian researcher said that "after the elimination of Uqba bin Nafi, Kusila did not abandon Islam, and when he entered Kairouan, he protected the Muslims."
And about the "Kassila" doctrine, the history professor explained that he followed the "zero doctrine", which is one of the Kharijite doctrines, and is close to the Ibadi doctrine, pointing out that the Umayyads were "practicing racism against the Amazighs, as was their invasion of North Africa with a religious cover," in While "a number of the region's residents were Muslims before that."
Source: websites