In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Alp Arslan assumed control of the nation following the demise of his uncle Tughrul Beg, despite facing some contention regarding the rightful successor. However, he successfully navigated through this dispute and emerged as a skilful and fearless leader, much like his uncle. He implemented a distinct strategy, focusing on consolidating his authority within the territories under the Seljuk influence before expanding his dominion to encompass new regions. His fervent desire for Jihad drove him to propagate the message of Islam in the neighbouring Christian nations, namely the Armenian and Roman lands. [I]

He spent seven years examining different parts of his extensive country before initiating any foreign expansion. Once he was confident in the restoration of security and the potential rule of the Seljuks in all regions and lands under their influence, he began strategizing to achieve his long-term objectives. These goals included conquering neighboring Christian countries, overthrowing the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt, unifying the Islamic world under the Sunni Abbasid caliphate, and expanding the influence of the Seljuks. To accomplish this, he assembled a large army and directed it toward the territories of the Armenians and Georgia, successfully conquering and incorporating them into his kingdom. Additionally, he actively worked towards spreading Islam in these lands. He also launched a raid on northern Shaam and laid siege to the Mirdaasid state in Aleppo, which was established by Salih Bin Mirdas and followed the Shiite sect. Through his efforts, he compelled Mahmoud Bin Salih Bin Mirdas, the leader of the Mirdaasid state, to advocate for the Abbasid caliphate instead of the Fatimid caliphate. Furthermore, he dispatched his Turk commander, Atsiz Ibn Uwaq al-Khawaarizmee, on a campaign to southern Shaam, resulting in the capture of Ramle and Baytul Maqdis from the Fatimids. However, he was unable to seize Asqalaan, which served as the gateway to Egypt. These endeavors brought the Seljuks closer to the heart of the Abbasid Caliphate, with the Seljuk Sultan establishing his presence within Baytul Maqdis. In 462 AH, a messenger from the sultan approached the governor of Makkah, Muhammad Bin Abee Haashim, and instructed him to deliver the Friday sermon under the authority of the Caliph. The messenger also requested that the sermon previously delivered under the authority of the Ubaidi Shiite ruler of Egypt be abandoned. Additionally, the messenger urged the governor to cease the religious innovation of the Shiites, who had deviated from the prescribed wording of the A’dhaan. Instead of saying “Hayyaa Alas Salaah, Hayyaa Alal Falaah” (come to the prayer, come to success), they had introduced the phrase “Hayyaa Alaa khayril A’mal” (come to the best of deeds). As a reward, the sultan granted Muhammad Bin Abee Haashim a thousand dinars and expressed that if the governor of Madinah followed suit, he would receive twenty thousand dinars.

The Emperor of the Romans, Romanos Diogenes, was angered by the conquests of Alp Arslan, prompting him to take action to defend his empire. His troops engaged in numerous skirmishes and battles against the Seljuk forces, with the most significant being the clash in 463 AH. According to Imam Ibn Kathir, during this battle, the Roman king Romanos led a vast army that was well-equipped. He was supported by 35,000 commanders, 200,000 knights, 35,000 Franks, 15,000 raiders from Constantinople, 1,000 excavators and diggers, 1,000 clay workers, 400 wheeled carriages carrying shoes and nails, 1,000 wheeled carriages loaded with weapons, saddles, bows and arrows, catapults, and one particularly formidable catapult armed with thousands of missiles and manned by 200 soldiers. Their sole purpose was to eradicate Islam and its followers. He encountered Romanos and his army of Romans at a place called Zahwa. With his army of nearly 20,000, he was initially concerned about the large number of Romans; however, the jurist Abu Nasr Muhammad Bin Abdil Malik Al-Bukharee advised him to choose Friday as the day for the battle, when the Khateebs would be supplicating for the Mujahideen. Following this advice, the two parties faced each other on the chosen day. Before the battle began, Sultan Alp Arslan dismounted from his horse, prostrated to Allah with his face covered in soil and sought His help. Allah granted victory to the Muslims, resulting in the death of many Romans and the capture of their king, Romanos.

When Romanos was brought before Alp Arslan, he struck him three times and asked him what he would do if their roles were reversed. Romanos replied that he would commit every ugly deed. Alp Arslan then asked Romanos for his thoughts on his own fate. Romanos expressed his preference for being pardoned, paying a ransom, and being returned home rather than being killed and humiliated in Alp Arslan’s country. In response, he stated that his firm decision was to pardon Romanos and accept a ransom. He deducted a large sum from the ransom – five hundred thousand dinars. Ramanos paid his respects to Alp Arslan, who then provided him with 10000 dinars for preparations, released some commanders to accompany him, and dispatched an army to ensure his safe journey back to his country. The triumph of Alp Arslan’s army, consisting of only fifteen thousand soldiers, over Emperor Romanos’ massive army of over two hundred thousand troops, marked a significant moment in Islamic history. This victory led to the decline of Roman influence in key regions of Asia Minor, weakening the foundations of the Byzantine Empire and ultimately paving the way for its downfall at the hands of the Ottomans.

Alp Arslan, a righteous man, sought both religious and material means to achieve victory. He valued the advice of scholars and maintained a close relationship with them. During the battle of Manzikert, the erudite scholar Abu Nasr Muhammad Bin Abdil Malik Al-Hanafi gave him a remarkable piece of advice. He reminded Sultan Alp Arslan that they were fighting for a religion ordained by Allah, and that victory was promised by Allah for that cause. The scholar expressed hope that the conquest would be written in the Sultan’s name. He advised Alp Arslan to engage the enemy on a Friday, at the time when the khateebs were on the pulpits, as they would be supplicating for the Mujahideen. When the appointed hour arrived, the Sultan led his army in prayer, shedding tears that moved the people to tears as well. He prayed fervently, and his soldiers responded with Aameen. He then gave them the choice to leave, emphasizing that he would not force them to stay. He prepared for battle by equipping himself with a crossbow sling, and a sword, and dressing in white, declaring that if he were to fall, his white attire would serve as his shroud.

He was kind-hearted, compassionate towards the poor, and frequently supplicated to Allah to preserve the blessings bestowed upon him. On a particular occasion, he was moved to tears upon encountering impoverished individuals in Khurasan, beseeching Allah to grant him abundance from His Grace. Known for his generous donations, during Ramadan he would contribute 15000 dinars. His public treasury records contained numerous names of needy individuals across the regions under his governance, associated with various state departments and organizations. Throughout his lands, there were no instances of wrongdoing or property confiscation, as he opted for a modest land tax payment from cultivators each year, collected in two instalments, out of consideration for his subjects. Some of the clerks corresponded with him regarding his minister’s conduct concerning the governance system, highlighting his wealth. Consequently, he called for the minister and advised, “If the allegations against you are true, then take this as a warning to improve your behavior and rectify your affairs. However, if the accusations are false, then forgive the accuser for their error.” He was regularly informed about the history of the kings, their conduct, and the laws of the Shari’ah. As his reputation for good behaviour and honouring agreements spread among the kings, they willingly submitted to him in obedience and approval. Leaders traveled from distant lands, spanning from the river to the farthest regions of Shaam, to seek his counsel. He was murdered by one of the insurgents called Yusuf al-Khawarizmi, and that was on the tenth of Rabi al-Awwal in the year 465 AH, and he was buried in the city of Merv near the grave of his father. He was succeeded by his son Malik Shah. [An Excerpt from Ad-Dawlah Al-Uthmaaniyyah Awaamil An-Nuhood Wa Asbaab As-Suqoot. 6/26-31]

[I] https://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-life-of-the-muhammad-in-madinah-treaties-conquests-and-his-death/
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/treaties-with-the-non-muslims-do-they-necessitate-allegiance/
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/salafi-shaikh-fawzaan-on-jihaad-in-our-times-and-the-guidelines-of-jihaad-according-to-islam/