Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

When considering the role of the incoming Turks into the general Islamic culture of this period, it is conventional to perceive them as zealous converts to Islam and fervent supporters of the Sunna. As they emphasized their loyalty to Sunni
Orthodoxy more and more as they realized the opportunities in this political position they acquired by claiming to liberate the Abbasid Caliphs from tutelage of the Shii Buyids and challenge the Ismaili Fatimids, and attack on the Ismailis. However there is no evidence that Turkish troops in Samarra in 9th century –a military town constituted of Turkish Military Slaves of the Chalip al-Mutasım, established after the 4th fitna- had any zealotry feelings towards Islam (Gordon, 2001) and it is suggested that the Turks association with the Sunni cause only begun in 10th century with Mahmud of Ghazna; this task came to be even more stressed throughout the Seljuqs and Ottomans (Kennedy, 2010).