Jews spread out from Israel into northern Africa after the Roman destruction of much of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and settled in Saharan oases. This book examines the destruction of the Jewish community of a Saharan oasis justified by Islam based on arguments with translations of Arabic Islamic writings on Jews and their rights to pursue their religion. That enabled many Jews to remain in North Africa after Arab conquest of the region. However, after Jews living in Tlemcen [Algeria], or in the oasis of Touat became involved in trans-Saharan trade, even with Muslims, strong opposition to them occurred. Tlemcen, seen by Jews as 'Jerusalem of the West,' was primarily Muslim occupied, and for economic reasons, the Jews living there became greatly disliked on account of their trans-Saharan trading - mainly for gold. A Tlemcen scholar, Muhammad al-Maghili, spent time in Touat, and used Islam-based arguments to destroy their synagogue there and expel them. He also got Jews excluded from the Songhay Empire. This book examines the whole process, with translations of Arabic Islamic writings on Jews and their rights to pursue their religion.

Translated by: John Hunwick