...ancient as a transit point, not a place of settlement. And there is no convincing evidence.

Huisi Miranda's claim that Ibn Tumart spent a full year there.

It is important to ask why Ibn Tumart headed to Andalusia and did not stay there long, given that his original destination was the East? We can assume that he intended to study in Cordoba, which was then a center of learning. When he did not find the kind of knowledge there that would fulfill his desire, he did not stay long and took the path to the East. We can also assume that he moved to Andalusia merely to board ships heading from the port of Almeria to the East. We have no data to favor one over the other. However, it is likely that Cordoba ignited this young man's longing for the East, as it was a leader in opposing Al-Ghazali, and from there the judge Ibn Hamdin managed the intellectual campaign against him.

In Africa: Ibn Qunfudh and Al-Zarkashi mentioned that when Ibn Tumart left Andalusia, he headed to the city of Mahdia. There he studied under Abu Abdullah Al-Mazari (d. 536 AH / 1141 AD).

Other historians went to the opinion that he moved directly from the port of Almeria to Alexandria.

As for what the Tarou brothers mentioned, that he passed through Tunis and Kairouan, we find no evidence for it in the texts. It seems to be a matter of conjecture. We can favor what Ibn Qunfudh and Al-Zarkashi said based on the fact that the relations and communication lines were stronger and more established between Mahdia and Alexandria than between Almeria and Alexandria directly, so Mahdia was a connecting point between the two ports. However, what was mentioned about studying with Imam Al-Mazari, if it was Ibn Adhari said: "He crossed to Andalusia and reached Cordoba, and from there he went to Almeria." Al-Bayan Al-Mughrib: 435.

Ibn Khaldun said: "He passed through Andalusia and entered Cordoba." Al-'Ibar: 465/6.

Huisi Miranda, The Political History of the Almohads: 20.

Ibn Khaldun, Al-'Ibar: 465/6.

See Ibn Qunfudh and Al-Zarkashi, Al-Farisiyyah: Tarikh Al-Dawlatayn, 100.

See, for example, Huisi Miranda, The Political History of the Almohads: 34, who went to the opinion that what Al-Zarkashi mentioned is merely a confusion, and it seems he did not come across what Ibn Qunfudh mentioned, who is earlier than Al-Zarkashi.

John and Jerome Tarou, In the Civilization of Andalusia: 23.

See: Bourouiba, Ibn Tumart: 68.