Islamic Reformation (Fidem Pacis)

The Islamic Reformation was the series of events in European and Middle Eastern history which resulted in the conversion of the Roman state church, and many other national churches, to Islam. It does not refer to any specific period of history, but was instead a protracted affair which affected different regions at different times.

For the most part, the process was relatively peaceful, with the existing institutions and organizational structures simply being adapted for a different faith, though there were a number of religious wars and persecutions on both sides.

Roman Empire
After those of Arabia itself, some of the first Christians to accept Islam were the Monophysites of Egypt and Syria. They were greatly aided in this by the early conversion of the Emperor Heraclius and his efforts at the Third Council of Constantinople to encourage acceptance.

However, despite official recognition, the process of conversion was slow and uncertain. The majority of the population, particularly in Italy, Africa, Greece and Anatolia, adhered to the Chalcedonian creed, and their bishops were strongly opposed to any change. Immediately after the Council these regions rose up in revolt against Heraclius, and only by making compromises and agreeing to scale back his plans was he able to subdue the rebellion.

Progress was slow after this, but by the reign of Constantine IV it had been common for the educated to, at least nominally, convert in the hopes of preferment for civil or military advancement. Constantine's son Justinian II was the last Christian emperor and attempted to undo many of the changes of the last decades, but he was overthrown before this could be realised. It was Tiberius III who made it clear that Islam was here to stay, and so ended the last serious resistance to the new order in the east.

After this the Islamification question was effectively resolved, but there still remained a debate to be had on how much of the old Christian culture should be preserved. Among other things, there remained thousands of religious icons in churches and mosques, despite the explicit Quranic prohibition of such images. Leo III attempted to destroy such images, beginning what became known as the iconoclasm, but the backlash was such that his successors eventually had to back down and allow some icons to be tolerated.

By the year 900 the position of Islam in the Roman Empire was secure, and the country had become a source for missionaries to other parts of Europe and beyond.