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- The adoption of
Islam by Turks is a significant incident in respect of both the histories of Turks and
Islam and the history of the World. Turks had adopted this new religion pursuant to a long
acquaintance period, not under the political dominion of Islam State.The first relations
between the Turks and the Muslims appeared pursuant to the completion of the conquest of
Iran after the Nihavend war in the year of 642. However, Turks and Arabians that lived in
countries far away from each other had had the opportunity to become a little acquainted
before the aforesaid date through the mediation of Sassani Empire. It is interesting that
some of the Arabian poets mentioned about the military characteristics and the heroism of
Turks in their poems in the Age of Ignorance.
- On the other
hand, various Prophet’s Sayings attributed to Hz. Mohammed dwelt upon the military
characteristics of Turks, too. “Do not attack to Turks unless they attack to you.”
“I have my soldiers in the east that I call Turks”. There are numerous examples with
the same meaning. The accuracy of these Prophet’s Sayings with the similar meanings is
definite enough. Furthermore, it has been rumoured that Hz. Mohammed sat in a Turkish tent
(Kubbet el-Türkiye) while the Muslims prepared for the Hendek War. Müslüm stated that
the Prophet worshipped for religious service in the Turkish tent. The famous Arabian
author el-Cahiz has emphasised the military capabilities of Turks in his work titled as
el-Etrak. According to these resources, Arabians had become acquainted with the Turks in
the military fields in the beginning and this situation was reflected into the Arabian
literature.
- As a result of
the conquests won in the period of the Caliph Ömer (634-644), Muslims came face to face
with the Turks in Khorasan and especially in Transoxania and the Caucasus. Khorasan
governor, Ubeydullar b. Ziyad who was connected to the Caliph Mu’aviye passed over the
River of Ceyhun that was the border between Iran and Turan in the year of 674. Then, he
besieged Bokhara that was one of the most important cities in Transoxania that was
governed by various Turkish bey principalities. He concluded an agreement with the queen
of the city who had Turkish roots. Then, he returned together with two thousands of
Turkish soldiers that he had convened there.
- Upon the decline
of Gokturk State, the Turkish bey principalities dominated in the region of Transoxania.
The conquest of Transoxania was partially fulfilled in the period of the governorship of
Kuteybe b. Müslim in Khorasan (705-715). But after Kuteybe, the influence of Emevi people
started to weaken down in the Transoxania. The failures in this front resulted from
several reasons such as the reappearance of the competition between the Arabian tribes,
the bad administration of the governors, and on the other hand, the ally of Turkish bey
principalities in Transoxania against their common enemy, and the support of Türgiş
Khanate that was a powerful state in that period furnished for these bey principalities.
There were bloody struggles that started in the period of the Caliph Ömer in the Caucasus
and these struggles continued intermittently. The greatest victory that was won by the
Muslims in this front was the military expedition carried out by the Azerbaijan and
Armenian governor, Mervan b. Muhammed in the year of 737. In this expedition, he besieged
Idyll, the capital city of Khazar and the Khazar Khan had to convert into the religion of
Islam.
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