Editing Homs (section)

===Arab caliphates and dynasties===
{{Further|Caliphate|Rashidun Caliphate|Umayyad Caliphate|Abbasid Caliphate|Ikhshidids|Fatimids|Mirdasid dynasty}}
Prior to the [[Muslim conquest of the Levant]], [[tribes of Arabia]], particularly the [[Banu Kalb]], settled around Emesa, ensuring its position as an important center for the [[Qays and Yaman tribes]]. The [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] emperor [[Heraclius]] abandoned the city, which served as his headquarters,<ref>Kennedy, 2007, p. 74</ref> after his army's defeat by the [[Rashidun Caliphate]] under [[Umar]] during the [[Battle of the Yarmuk]] (now the [[Jordan–Syria border]]).

In 637 CE, the [[Rashidun army]], led by [[Khalid ibn al-Walid]], [[siege of Emesa|captured Emesa peacefully]] because its inhabitants agreed to pay a substantial ransom of 71,000 to 170,000 [[dinar]]s.<ref name="Dumper">Dumper, 2007, p. 172.</ref><ref>Mannheim, 2001, p. 205.</ref><ref name="Hamawi"/> Caliph Umar established Homs as the capital of [[Jund Hims]], a district of the province of [[Bilad al-Sham]], encompassing the towns of [[Latakia]], [[Jableh]], and [[Tartus]] along the coast, [[Palmyra]] in the [[Syrian Desert]] and the territory in between, including the town of [[Hama]].<ref>le Strange, 1890, p. 25.</ref> Homs was likely the first city in Syria to have a substantial Muslim population.<ref>Kennedy, 2007, p. 86.</ref>

In 638, Heraclius sought help from the Christian Arab tribes in [[Upper Mesopotamia]], mainly from [[Circesium]] and [[Hit, Iraq|Hīt]], and they mustered a large army and [[Siege of Emesa (638)|besieged Emesa]]. However, the siege was a failure, as the coalition forces lost heart and abandoned the city as at the time [[Iyad ibn Ghanm]] invaded their homeland in an effort to counter their act.<ref name="al Bidayah wa Nihayah Ibn Kathir">{{cite web |last1=Ibn Kathir |first1=Abu al-Fiḍā ‘Imād Ad-Din Ismā‘īl |title=Al Bidayah wa Nihayah |url=https://waqfeya.net/book.php?bid=11131 |website=Waqfeya |access-date=9 October 2021 |archive-date=9 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009004416/https://waqfeya.net/book.php?bid=11131 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Zakkar, 1971">{{cite book |last1=Zakkar |first1=Suhayl |title=The Emirate of Aleppo: 1004–1094 |date=1971 |publisher=Dar al-Amanah |location=Aleppo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sbltAAAAMAAJ |access-date=13 October 2021 |archive-date=23 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923075042/https://books.google.com/books?id=sbltAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Crone">{{Slaves on Horses}}</ref>

The Muslims transformed half of St. John's Church into the city's [[Friday mosque]] ([[Great Mosque of al-Nuri, Homs|Great Mosque of al-Nuri]]) and Homs soon became a centre of Islamic piety since some 500 [[companions of Muhammad]] ({{langx|ar|اَلصَّحَابَةُ|al-ṣaḥāba}}) settled there after its conquest.<ref name="Dumper"/> The tombs of Khalid ibn al-Walid, his son [[Abd al-Rahman ibn Khalid|Abd al-Rahman]], and the son of Umar [[Ubayd Allah ibn Umar|Ubayd Allah]], are located in the city.<ref>[[Ibn Jubair]] quoted in le Strange, 1890, p. 355.</ref>

During the [[First Fitna]], the conflict between the [[Umayyad dynasty]] and their partisans and [[Ali]] and his partisans, the inhabitants of Homs allied themselves with Ali. When he was defeated, the Umayyad caliph [[Mu'awiya I|Mu'awiya]] hived the northern half of Jund Hims to form a separate district, [[Jund Qinnasrin]], apparently as punishment.<ref name="Dumper"/> Ali's oratory (''mashhad 'Ali'') was located in the city, and Islamic tradition claims his fingerprints are engraved on it.<ref name="Hamawi">[[Yaqut al-Hamawi]] quoted in le Strange, 1890, p. 356.</ref>

Despite repression by the Umayyads, Homs remained a center of [[Shia Islam]] for a while longer. As a stronghold of the Banu Kalb, a Yamani tribe, the city became heavily involved in the [[Qays–Yaman rivalry]]. The last Umayyad caliph, [[Marwan II]], enjoyed the support of the Qays and subsequently razed the city walls in response to a rebellion by the Banu Kalb.<ref name="Dumper"/>

[[File:Interior - Al-Nuri Mosque - Hims, Syria.jpg|thumb|left|The interior of the [[Great Mosque of al-Nuri, Homs|Great Mosque of al-Nuri]]]]

In 750, the [[Abbasid Caliphate]] wrested control of Syria, including Homs, from the Umayyads, and the Arab tribes revolted. Despite the prosperity Homs experienced during this era, Abbasid rule was generally not welcomed nevertheless. During and after the reign of Caliph [[Harun al-Rashid]] (796–809), the Abbasid authorities sent numerous punitive expeditions against Homs.<ref name="Dumper"/> Under the reign of Caliph [[al-Mutawakkil]], in October 855, [[Homs revolts (854–855)|the Christian population revolted]] in response to [[jizya|additional taxation]]. The caliph put down the revolt by expelling Christians from the city, burning down their churches and executing members of their leadership.<ref>Gil, 1997, pp. 296–97.</ref>

With Abbasid rule over the Caliphate weakening in the mid-9th century, Homs became sought after by rebel dynasties contending for control of Syria due to the city's strategic position. Initially, the [[Egypt]]-based [[Tulunids]] came into control of it, but they were forced out by the [[Aleppo]]-based [[Hamdanid dynasty|Hamdanids]], who were briefly succeeded by the [[Qarmatians]],<ref name="Dumper"/> after the latter's Turkish rebel ally [[Alptakin]] invaded northern Syria and established Homs as his base.<ref>Gil, 1997, p. 343.</ref>

In 891, Muslim geographer [[al-Yaqubi]] noted that Homs was situated along a broad river which served as a source of drinking water for the inhabitants.<ref name="le Strange2"/> It was one of the largest cities in Syria and had several smaller districts surrounding it. In 944 the Hamdanids took definitive control of the city, dominating it until 1016.<ref name="Dumper"/> Arab geographer [[al-Mas'udi]] claimed in the early 10th century that Homs was "noted for the personal beauty of its inhabitants."<ref name="le Strange2">le Strange, 1890, p. 353.</ref> In 985, [[al-Maqdisi]] noted that Homs was the largest city in all of Syria, but it had suffered "great misfortunes" and was "threatened with ruin." He stated that when the city was conquered by the Muslims they turned half of its church into a mosque.<ref>[[al-Maqdisi]] quoted in le Strange, 1890, p. 354.</ref>

For around thirty years during the 10th century, Homs was raided by the Byzantines led by [[Nikephoros II Phokas]] in October 968, and its inhabitants were subject to slaughter and plunder while the Great Mosque of al-Nuri was briefly restored as a church.{{sfn|Bosworth|2007|p=157}} In 974–975, [[John I Tzimiskes]] managed to control the city during [[Syrian campaigns of John Tzimiskes|his Syrian campaigns]].{{sfn|Romane|2015|p=73}}

Throughout most of the 11th century, the Byzantine raids receded greatly and the [[Mirdasid dynasty|Mirdasids]] of the [[Banu Kilab]] tribe ruled over Homs, replacing the Hamdanids. Inclined towards Shia Islam, they did not oppose the [[Isma'ilism|Isma'ili Shi'i]] [[Fatimid Caliphate]] of Egypt, which was aiming to extend its rule into northern Syria and [[Iraq]] at the time. This precipitated a [[Sunni Muslim]] reaction led by the [[Saljuqid Turks]], who occupied Homs under the leadership of [[Aq Sunqur al-Hajib]] in 1090.<ref name="Dumper"/>