Editing History of Morocco (section)

=== The successors of Idris II ===
[[File:Idrisids coin minted at Al Aliyah Morocco 840 CE.jpg|thumb|170px|[[Idrissid dirham|Idrisid dirham]], minted at al-'Aliyah ([[Fez, Morocco|Fes]]), [[Morocco]], 840 CE. The coin features the name of [[Ali]]: a son-in-law of [[Muhammad]], the fourth [[Ali as Caliph|Caliph]], and an ancestor of the Idrisids.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Discover Islamic Art - Virtual Museum - object_ISL_ma_Mus01_F_2_en|url=http://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;ma;Mus01_F;2;en|access-date=2020-07-25|website=islamicart.museumwnf.org}}</ref>|alt=]]
[[File:University karawiyine.jpg|thumb|Present-day courtyard of the [[University of al-Qarawiyyin|Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque]] in [[Fes]], established by [[Fatima al-Fihri]] in the 9th century]]

The dynasty's power would slowly decline following Idris II's death. Under his son and successor [[Muhammad ibn Idris|Muhammad]] (828–836) the kingdom was divided amongst seven of his brothers, whereby eight Idrisid statelets formed in Morocco and western Algeria.<ref>''Idrisids'', D. Eustache, '''The Encyclopaedia of Islam''', Vol. III, 1035.</ref> Muhammad himself came to rule Fes, with only nominal power over his brothers. His brother Isa, who was given control of the coastal [[Tamasna|Tamesna]] regions near the [[Bou Regreg]] from his base at [[Chellah]], quickly revolted against him. Muhammad entrusted his brother Umar, who had received the territories around the Rif, to punish Isa. Umar successfully drove Isa from power, who was forced to take refuge in Chellah, and then turned north to punish his other brother al-Qasim at Tangier because he had earlier refused to join him and Muhammad against Isa. Al-Qasim fled to [[Asilah]] and settled nearby, while Muhammad gave Umar governorship of Tangier as a reward. Upon Umar's death in September or October 835 his son [[Ali ibn Umar]] was granted all of his father's domains in turn. Muhammad himself died seven months later in the March or April 836. His son [[Ali ibn Muhammad]] inherited his position and ruled for 13 years (836–849) in a competent manner, ensuring the stability of the state. After his death in 849 he was succeeded by his brother [[Yahya ibn Muhammad]] (or Yahya I), who also enjoyed a peaceful reign.<ref name=":052">{{Cite book|last=Eustache|first=D.|title=Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition|publisher=Brill|year=2012|editor-last=Bearman|editor-first=P.|chapter=Idrīsids|editor-last2=Bianquis|editor-first2=Th.|editor-last3=Bosworth|editor-first3=C.E.|editor-last4=van Donzel|editor-first4=E.|editor-last5=Heinrichs|editor-first5=W.P.}}</ref>

During this time [[Islam]]ic and [[Arabic culture]] gained a stronghold in the towns and Morocco profited from the [[trans-Saharan trade]], which came to be dominated by Muslim (mostly Berber) traders. The city of Fes also flourished and became an important religious center.<ref name=":15" />{{Rp|52}} During Yahya's reign more Arab immigrants arrived and the famous mosques of [[University of al-Qarawiyyin|al-Qarawiyyin]] and [[Andalusian Mosque|al-Andalusiyyin]] were founded.<ref name=":052" /> Even so, the Islamic and Arabic culture only made its influence felt in the towns, with the vast majority of Morocco's population still using the [[Berber languages]] and often adhering to Islamic heterodox and heretical doctrines. The Idrisids were principally rulers of the towns and had little power over the majority of the country's population.<ref name=":15" />{{Rp|52}}