Allah amongst the Vikings

Quid est Veritas? · Oct 12, 2017

Why did Vikings have 'Allah' on clothes?

Apparently they found the words Allah and Ali embroidered on grave goods from Viking burials in Scandinavia. It was in Kufic Arabic script.

It makes sense as Vikings ranged all the rivers of Russia and traded with the Arab world. Many served in Constantinople's Varangian Guard, but obviously such mercenaries would also take service with the Saracens.

It is odd to think of Islamic Vikings though. We know Christianity slowly penetrated Scandinavia until it converted, but obviously Islam may have done the same - at least in the form of individual Vikings perhaps returning as Muslims. Alternately, these may represent slaves taken or freedmen from the Islamic world; or perhaps just a copied patterning.

There is a chance that the marauding bands raiding and pillaging Europe, may have had an odd Muslim or two - the first Islamic terrorists striking Europe, as it were.

naveed · Oct 12, 2017

Saucy · Oct 12, 2017

Quid est Veritas? said:
Why did Vikings have 'Allah' on clothes?

Apparently they found the words Allah and Ali embroidered on grave goods from Viking burials in Scandinavia. It was in Kufic Arabic script.

It makes sense as Vikings ranged all the rivers of Russia and traded with the Arab world. Many served in Constantinople's Varangian Guard, but obviously such mercenaries would also take service with the Saracens.

It is odd to think of Islamic Vikings though. We know Christianity slowly penetrated Scandinavia until it converted, but obviously Islam may have done the same - at least in the form of individual Vikings perhaps returning as Muslims. Alternately, these may represent slaves taken or freedmen from the Islamic world; or perhaps just a copied patterning.

There is a chance that the marauding bands raiding and pillaging Europe, may have had an odd Muslim or two - the first Islamic terrorists striking Europe, as it were.

They heavily traded with Muslim nations. Isn't it more obvious to think they received the clothes that way and had no idea what Allah meant? Their letters were way different from Arabic, so to them, it could've represented anything.

MyOwnSockPuppet · Oct 12, 2017

They got everywhere, and traded with everyone, even back then (including the Sivullirmiut and Thule people about four centuries before Columbus).

USincognito · Oct 12, 2017

It's also possible that the clothing belonged to an individual convert, a slave or a diplomat/traveling merchant.

Armoured · Oct 12, 2017

Saucy said:
They heavily traded with Muslim nations. Isn't it more obvious to think they received the clothes that way and had no idea what Allah meant? Their letters were way different from Arabic, so to them, it could've represented anything.

The generally accepted theory is that "Allah" oçcuring on coins and clothing in migration period Europe was that it was copied as a decorative pattern, not as actual script.

Shemjaza · Oct 12, 2017

Saucy said:
They heavily traded with Muslim nations. Isn't it more obvious to think they received the clothes that way and had no idea what Allah meant? Their letters were way different from Arabic, so to them, it could've represented anything.

This seems more likely. I can't find it, but there is apparently a painting of Mary wearing a beautiful silk dress with the golden "decorative" embroidery intact. The European painter didn't recognise the Arabic writing as text, let alone as praise for Allah.

Monk Brendan · Oct 12, 2017

Quid est Veritas? said:
Apparently they found the words Allah and Ali embroidered on grave goods from Viking burials in Scandinavia. It was in Kufic Arabic script.

"Allah" is the Arabic word for God. It is not Muslim in origin. There have been Arab Christians since the day of the first Pentecost! They were the ones that influenced the Vikings, not the Muslims.

BTW, I go to a church that is made up of mostly Arabic Christians, so I should know.

Saucy · Oct 12, 2017

Yes, it's also possible they got it from a raid and the materials were so fine that they treasured it without knowing what was written on it.

Nithavela · Oct 12, 2017

That barb about "first islamic terrorists" is really unneccessary.

Quid est Veritas? · Oct 12, 2017

Nithavela said:
That barb about "first islamic terrorists" is really unneccessary.

That was meant as a joke. You of all people should appreciate that.

The Islamic embroidery that had previously been missed was, of course, the primary point here, though.

Redac · Oct 12, 2017

Armoured said:
The generally accepted theory is that "Allah" oçcuring on coins and clothing in migration period Europe was that it was copied as a decorative pattern, not as actual script.

That makes sense. Even if you have no idea what it says, or even that it's writing, Arabic script can look really nice.

Armoured · Oct 12, 2017

Monk Brendan said:
"Allah" is the Arabic word for God. It is not Muslim in origin. There have been Arab Christians since the day of the first Pentecost! They were the ones that influenced the Vikings, not the Muslims.

BTW, I go to a church that is made up of mostly Arabic Christians, so I should know.

Interesting point. Although we do know the Vikings had at least some contact with Muslims. I forget his name, but there was an actual envoy sent to Sweden from one of the major Islamic courts. So the "Allah" script that was copied could have come from Muslims or Christians... or it could just have traveled from hand to hand along trade routes and been utterly removed from any religious context. Much like the famous Buddha figure found at (iirc) Visby, clearly trade routes stretched very far, but that doesn't mean there were many Viking Buddhists.

Quid est Veritas? · Oct 12, 2017

Monk Brendan said:
"Allah" is the Arabic word for God. It is not Muslim in origin. There have been Arab Christians since the day of the first Pentecost! They were the ones that influenced the Vikings, not the Muslims.

BTW, I go to a church that is made up of mostly Arabic Christians, so I should know.

This embroidery has both Allah and Ali, though. So a Muslim origin is more probable, perhaps even a Shi'ite one.

Quid est Veritas? · Oct 12, 2017

Armoured said:
Interesting point. Although we do know the Vikings had at least some contact with Muslims. I forget his name, but there was an actual envoy sent to Sweden from one of the major Islamic courts. So the "Allah" script that was copied could have come from Muslims or Christians... or it could just have traveled from hand to hand along trade routes and been utterly removed from any religious context. Much like the famous Buddha figure found at (iirc) Visby, clearly trade routes stretched very far, but that doesn't mean there were many Viking Buddhists.

I know of a few Arabic accounts of the Norsemen, mostly the Rus. Ibn Fadlan on the Volga comes to mind. I am unaware of any envoys sent to Sweden itself though. If you could find the reference, it would be very intetesting.

The Vikings had extensive trading links with the Muslim world. Arabic coins are very commonly found in Scandinavia from the period.

Allah amongst the Vikings

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