The Vikings decide to convert to Islam.

[lerk]

Vikings converting to Islam opens up a whole can of worms. For one thing, the butterflies involved would make it so that it is very likely that Islam is not limited to Scandinavia. Perhaps the Vikings take over the eastern part of the British Isles and make it Muslim. Perhaps Greenland and maybe even Newfoundland becomes Muslim as well. As mentioned before about Zahiris, perhaps the Zahiri madhab could survive in Scandinavia. Most Madhabs nowadays tend to be restricted in geography (Hanafi madhab is practiced among Subcontinentals, Turks, Levantine Arabs, and Central Asians. Hanbali madhab is practiced among Gulf Arabs, Maliki madhab is practiced among North Africans, and the Shafi'i madhab is practiced among East Africans and SE Asians).

Another thing worth mentioning is that there will most likely be crusades to make Scandinavia Christian. If not in the 8th-11th century, then by the time the Baltics crusade had ended, and if not by then, then perhaps the early modern era. Scandinavia is going to be separated by much of the Islamic World, and unless they can unite themselves under one country and don't engage in petty squabbles then it will be tough for Scandinavian Muslims following conversion to Islam.

As long as there are whirling dervish Sufi orders of Norsemen I'm all in.

Such orders were formed in the 13th century, by then most of the Nords have already converted to Christianity.

Today Muslims living in areas with less than 6 hours from sunset till dawn during Ramadan can use the times of sunset and dawn in Mecca to determine when to break the fast and when to take the last meal before starting it once again, but that's only possible with media publishing the timetables and reliable timepieces, both unavailable during the dark ages.

Perhaps Ramadan happens at a different time, like in the spring or some other weather in which it can be suitable. Of course, this requires changing the Islamic calendar. As Scandinavia is most likely going to be the center of Zahiri Islam, perhaps the Zahiri madhab is changed to where it has a different calendar.

 

[Jan Olbracht]

In that part of Europe conversion to Christianity was top-down (it was not like "one day people X decided to convert to Y religion") and enforced by strong rulers (thus, lack of centralised state, like among Baltic Prussians or Finns, made Christianization imppssible without foreign conquest) for political gains (are there any in thatvscenario?). And even centuries after official conversion most of population remained pagan in all but name.

 

[SwampTiger]

Would it be easier for whichever Muslim variant in northern Eurasia to simply modify the Islamic calendar to correlate with the Nordic calendar with its more stable definition of months and annual holidays?

Depending on when Islam arrives in the North, the Northern Crusades may have a huge impact on the growth of Nordic kingdoms and national organization. The Norse also will impact deep within the rivers systems of northern, western AND eastern Europe. Can you imagine a combined Norse/Turkic raid deep into the Danube basin. How about Norse settlements/trade forts along the northern Anatolian coast. Varangians supporting hordes of horse archers at Manzikert, either the siege or the battle, would be interesting.

 

[TimTurner]

Seeing the thread title made me briefly think of Vikings setting up mosques in Greenland and Iceland.

 

[Nivek]

Seeing the thread title made me briefly think of Vikings setting up mosques in Greenland and Iceland.

Well that would come with the butterflies.

 

[CountofDooku]

The eastern Rus adopted part of the local culture, having a few of them sail further down the Wolga/ Volga river ,or simply interact more with Muslim traders could do the trick.

 

[Nivek]

How would Vikings inter-weave their old multi-god religion with a new mono-theistic religion?

Djiins?

 

[TimTurner]

Djiins?

Perhaps the Jotun are reimagined as agents of Shaitan I guess?

 

[Nivek]

Perhaps the Jotun are reimagined as agents of Shaitan I guess?

Possible, as Djinn have free will they can follow good and evil, that could adapt the idea of Aesir and Jotunn were Djinn and other creatures existed before or alongside human..that could be..unique of the region itself too

 

[Emperor Gustavus Adolphus]

Djiins?

Djinns (aka Genie) are supposedly from Arabian or Persian mythologies, originally.

But I could see Islam take a very similar form to OTL Christianity if it spread further into Europe (not possible through conquest as Arabian empire was stretched but rather through missionaries, if anything but unlikely).

We could have a third branch (other than Shia and Sunni) of Islam and something more Sufi and with more of local Pagan mixture.

Religions are strangely shaped by Geography, more than we think it is.

 

[Thomas Lloyd]

Russia could convert to Islam if it was invaded by nomads a few centuries earlier.

 

[Revachah]

A constant theme I have seen in Muslim Africa and black populations of North Africa/Middle East are Women/”effeminate male“ dominated possession cults Zār, Bori, Kel Essuf, Hauka, Rab, etc... these cults speak of winds as spirits that cause bad and good things to those possessed and participants negotiate with the spirits. It’s very clearly a reconfiguration of religious positions that were made to fit within male dominated Islamic practice.

Beyond providing religious outlets it also was a leveraging tool in forcing the hands on men and established religious institutions. It provides specialization of some within the enslaved and formerly enslaved castes, where they are used by the middle and even the upperclass echelon of women seeking relief from spirit ”harassment”.

In an Islamic Norse ATL it would be interesting to speak on the socio-religious and socio-cultural aspects of Women and effeminates; especially that of thralls and freedmen castes and their interaction in modern society. Their influence in the Bóndi merchants who were the freemen in closest contact with thralls and their extensive trade network would also be something to explore.

 

[AudieonAHCom]

Simple. A new denomination is on the way of being formed if that happened.

 

[Nivek]

Religions are strangely shaped by Geography, more than we think it is.

That is why i mentioned Djinns, if you read the article, you can see how integrated a lot of local cultural eschatology and mysticsm.

In an Islamic Norse ATL it would be interesting to speak on the socio-religious and socio-cultural aspects of Women and effeminates; especially that of thralls and freedmen castes and their interaction in modern society. Their influence in the Bóndi merchants who were the freemen in closest contact with thralls and their extensive trade network would also be something to explore.

Simple. A new denomination is on the way of being formed if that happened.

As people say, something very unique would be formed

 

[Byzantion]

Vikings converting to Islam opens up a whole can of worms. For one thing, the butterflies involved would make it so that it is very likely that Islam is not limited to Scandinavia. Perhaps the Vikings take over the eastern part of the British Isles and make it Muslim. Perhaps Greenland and maybe even Newfoundland becomes Muslim as well. As mentioned before about Zahiris, perhaps the Zahiri madhab could survive in Scandinavia. Most Madhabs nowadays tend to be restricted in geography (Hanafi madhab is practiced among Subcontinentals, Turks, Levantine Arabs, and Central Asians. Hanbali madhab is practiced among Gulf Arabs, Maliki madhab is practiced among North Africans, and the Shafi'i madhab is practiced among East Africans and SE Asians).

Another thing worth mentioning is that there will most likely be crusades to make Scandinavia Christian. If not in the 8th-11th century, then by the time the Baltics crusade had ended, and if not by then, then perhaps the early modern era. Scandinavia is going to be separated by much of the Islamic World, and unless they can unite themselves under one country and don't engage in petty squabbles then it will be tough for Scandinavian Muslims following conversion to Islam.



Such orders were formed in the 13th century, by then most of the Nords have already converted to Christianity.



Perhaps Ramadan happens at a different time, like in the spring or some other weather in which it can be suitable. Of course, this requires changing the Islamic calendar. As Scandinavia is most likely going to be the center of Zahiri Islam, perhaps the Zahiri madhab is changed to where it has a different calendar.

So they might spread it along the Danube River among the slavs. So there might be Muslim Rus rulers.

 

[Food-Oh_Koon]

Whilst the "no eating pork" thing might be difficult*, I believe that the "unless your life depends on it" clause would still apply.

And also the no alcohol thing

 

[Analytical Engine]

And also the no alcohol thing

Not all schools of Islam forbid (all) forms of alcohol.

 

[snassni2]

This pork and alcohol argument is given too much attention. It will not lead to the creation of a new branch of Islam that allows it. It didn't happen in other parts like north africa, the balkans or china why should it happen here. Maybe in the beginning people will be reluctent to leave their old drinking and eating habits, but with more contact to the muslim world they will change.

 

[Food-Oh_Koon]

Not all schools of Islam forbid (all) forms of alcohol.

Ah, I'm from South Asia where most of the Islamic population doesn't drink. After some googling, I have learnt that not only do some schools of Islam allow alcohols, there is no verse that specifically prohibits alcohol. Perhaps the vikings take advantage of this clause too?

 

[Analytical Engine]

Ah, I'm from South Asia where most of the Islamic population doesn't drink. After some googling, I have learnt that not only do some schools of Islam allow alcohols, there is no verse that specifically prohibits alcohol. Perhaps the vikings take advantage of this clause too?

They'd probably argue that "it only applies to alcohol derived from grapes. Wait, grapes don't grow that well up here? Ah well...", so they can keep drinking mead and beer.