Ahmed Sadek
@sadek3.bsky.social
Medieval History&Archaeology | Independent Researcher in Islamic Military Architecture,Warfare Technology and Cross-Cultural exchanges | Musician by night
3/ We’re not just fighting terrorism…
We’re handing it diplomas.
#Egypt #alAzhar #Terrorism #Hasm #ISIS #EducationCrisis
We’re handing it diplomas.
#Egypt #alAzhar #Terrorism #Hasm #ISIS #EducationCrisis
July 20, 2025 at 7:17 PM
3/ We’re not just fighting terrorism…
We’re handing it diplomas.
#Egypt #alAzhar #Terrorism #Hasm #ISIS #EducationCrisis
We’re handing it diplomas.
#Egypt #alAzhar #Terrorism #Hasm #ISIS #EducationCrisis
2/ And yet some still naively ask:
“Why are so many al-Azhar graduates joining extremist groups?”
Here’s the answer:
They’re taught the same texts that fueled ISIS and al-Qaeda — under the label of “religious knowledge.”
“Why are so many al-Azhar graduates joining extremist groups?”
Here’s the answer:
They’re taught the same texts that fueled ISIS and al-Qaeda — under the label of “religious knowledge.”
July 20, 2025 at 7:17 PM
2/ And yet some still naively ask:
“Why are so many al-Azhar graduates joining extremist groups?”
Here’s the answer:
They’re taught the same texts that fueled ISIS and al-Qaeda — under the label of “religious knowledge.”
“Why are so many al-Azhar graduates joining extremist groups?”
Here’s the answer:
They’re taught the same texts that fueled ISIS and al-Qaeda — under the label of “religious knowledge.”
8/ The goal isn’t to cancel previous work, but to raise the standard: more archaeological context, clearer source critique, and a better distinction between fact and artistic interpretation…
July 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
8/ The goal isn’t to cancel previous work, but to raise the standard: more archaeological context, clearer source critique, and a better distinction between fact and artistic interpretation…
7/ As researchers, we shouldn’t blindly replicate illustrations. We should challenge them, reconstruct them critically, and ask: Does this align with the actual sources and available evidence?
July 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
7/ As researchers, we shouldn’t blindly replicate illustrations. We should challenge them, reconstruct them critically, and ask: Does this align with the actual sources and available evidence?
6/ We need more transparency in methodology. Did the illustration come from cross-referencing later Mamluk weapons? From comparing Byzantine or Sasanian examples? Was it purely interpretive? Just Say it!
July 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
6/ We need more transparency in methodology. Did the illustration come from cross-referencing later Mamluk weapons? From comparing Byzantine or Sasanian examples? Was it purely interpretive? Just Say it!
5/ Responsible historical research should clarify what’s hypothetical, what’s inferred, and what’s grounded in evidence — especially when visualizing early Islamic armies and battle tactics.
July 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
5/ Responsible historical research should clarify what’s hypothetical, what’s inferred, and what’s grounded in evidence — especially when visualizing early Islamic armies and battle tactics.
4/ Yet, we often see illustrations passed around as if they’re historical fact — without explanation of how the reconstructions were made, or what evidence (if any) supports them.
July 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
4/ Yet, we often see illustrations passed around as if they’re historical fact — without explanation of how the reconstructions were made, or what evidence (if any) supports them.
3/ Descriptions in Arabic sources are either vague or written centuries later. Terms like “sword” or “shield” are rarely accompanied by technical specs, making detailed reconstructions speculative.
July 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
3/ Descriptions in Arabic sources are either vague or written centuries later. Terms like “sword” or “shield” are rarely accompanied by technical specs, making detailed reconstructions speculative.
2/ Many popular books and illustrations confidently depict the arms and armor of 7th-century Muslim warriors. But archaeology from that specific period is extremely scarce.
July 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
2/ Many popular books and illustrations confidently depict the arms and armor of 7th-century Muslim warriors. But archaeology from that specific period is extremely scarce.
2/
#militarytech
The horizontal braces between the scaffolds serve to tightly secure the trestle beams laterally, ensuring structural stability during operation.
This modular structure reflects a highly rational and replicable design logic in medieval Islamic siege machinery.
#militarytech
The horizontal braces between the scaffolds serve to tightly secure the trestle beams laterally, ensuring structural stability during operation.
This modular structure reflects a highly rational and replicable design logic in medieval Islamic siege machinery.
May 31, 2025 at 2:45 PM
2/
#militarytech
The horizontal braces between the scaffolds serve to tightly secure the trestle beams laterally, ensuring structural stability during operation.
This modular structure reflects a highly rational and replicable design logic in medieval Islamic siege machinery.
#militarytech
The horizontal braces between the scaffolds serve to tightly secure the trestle beams laterally, ensuring structural stability during operation.
This modular structure reflects a highly rational and replicable design logic in medieval Islamic siege machinery.
1/
#Trebuchet
Each scaffold is built from two main elements:
– a base platform at the bottom
– and a crossbeam socket at the top, known as a khanazīrah, into which the five trestle beams (shabarkanāt) are inserted:
→ two outer beams
→ two inner beams
→ one central beam
#Trebuchet
Each scaffold is built from two main elements:
– a base platform at the bottom
– and a crossbeam socket at the top, known as a khanazīrah, into which the five trestle beams (shabarkanāt) are inserted:
→ two outer beams
→ two inner beams
→ one central beam
May 31, 2025 at 2:45 PM
1/
#Trebuchet
Each scaffold is built from two main elements:
– a base platform at the bottom
– and a crossbeam socket at the top, known as a khanazīrah, into which the five trestle beams (shabarkanāt) are inserted:
→ two outer beams
→ two inner beams
→ one central beam
#Trebuchet
Each scaffold is built from two main elements:
– a base platform at the bottom
– and a crossbeam socket at the top, known as a khanazīrah, into which the five trestle beams (shabarkanāt) are inserted:
→ two outer beams
→ two inner beams
→ one central beam
3.A leveling device to flatten the ground before placing the trebuchet base
4.A right-angled triangle tool used to measure height based on right-angle triangle principles (Pythagorean theorem)
5.A device for calculating target distances through angle measurement.
4.A right-angled triangle tool used to measure height based on right-angle triangle principles (Pythagorean theorem)
5.A device for calculating target distances through angle measurement.
May 20, 2025 at 9:21 AM
3.A leveling device to flatten the ground before placing the trebuchet base
4.A right-angled triangle tool used to measure height based on right-angle triangle principles (Pythagorean theorem)
5.A device for calculating target distances through angle measurement.
4.A right-angled triangle tool used to measure height based on right-angle triangle principles (Pythagorean theorem)
5.A device for calculating target distances through angle measurement.
Distance-measuring instruments (right to left) used before installing the trebuchet — from the manuscript al-Anīq fī al-Manajīnīq:
1.A one-arm-length ruler (~65 cm) for general distance measurement
2.A tool for directly measuring tree heights
1.A one-arm-length ruler (~65 cm) for general distance measurement
2.A tool for directly measuring tree heights
May 20, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Distance-measuring instruments (right to left) used before installing the trebuchet — from the manuscript al-Anīq fī al-Manajīnīq:
1.A one-arm-length ruler (~65 cm) for general distance measurement
2.A tool for directly measuring tree heights
1.A one-arm-length ruler (~65 cm) for general distance measurement
2.A tool for directly measuring tree heights