King Offa and Islamic Symbolism: Why did English dinars have Islamic inscriptions?

King Offa and Islamic Symbolism: Why did English dinars have Islamic inscriptions?

Coins minted by King Offa of England in the 8th century bear the Islamic inscription "La ilaha illallah" - "There is no god but Allah." There are various theories as to why this is the case.

1. Trade with Muslims

This is one of the most likely explanations. The Abbasid Caliphate was a dominant force in international trade at the time, and their gold dinars were accepted as the standard currency in the European economy. King Offa may have decorated his coins with Islamic symbols in order to strengthen trade relations with the Islamic world.

2. Respect for the Pope

Offa and the Pope had a complicated relationship. According to some sources, Offa sent 365 gold coins to the Papacy as tribute every year. Perhaps the coins with Islamic inscriptions are evidence of this. But in this case, the question arises: why did the Pope accept the coin with Islamic inscriptions?

3. Imitation of the Abbasid Caliphate

According to British historian Henry Blunt, Abbasid dinars were a symbol of power and stability for European kings. For example, Charlemagne had close ties with the Caliph Harun al-Rashid. Therefore, Offa may have wanted to appear rich and powerful, like the Muslims.

4. Was Offa a Muslim?

Some historians speculate that Offa may have converted to Islam. Several lines of evidence are cited for this:

Islamic merchants not only traded, but also spread their faith.

Offa's dinars are very similar to Abbasid dinars - minted in almost the same design.

During the later period of Offa's reign, Christian symbols on coins decreased.

The disappearance of documents about Offa may indicate a deliberate suppression of history.

The Islamic coins of King Offa attest to the fact that the Islamic world was a powerful force during the Abbasid period. Whether Offa was a Muslim or merely pursued economic interests is unclear. However, his dinar clearly demonstrates the influence of Islam on medieval Europe.