Why Was ‘La Ilaha Illa Allah’ Inscribed on an English Dinar a Thousand Years Ago?

The history of Islam in Western Europe is deep-rooted and dates back to the time when Muslims set foot on the continent, both in the East through encounters with the Byzantines and in the West when they successfully conquered Andalusia and advanced northward, reaching near Paris before being halted at the Battle of Tours.

Renowned historian Shakib Arslan, in his book The History of Arab Conquests in France, Switzerland, Italy, and the Mediterranean Islands, asserts that Muslim presence in Western Europe was not confined to Spain, Portugal, and France but extended to Switzerland and Italy during the early centuries of Islam. This early interaction exposed Europe to Islamic civilization, influencing its cultural and intellectual landscape.

Islam’s relationship with the West was not solely marked by warfare; it also encompassed political, economic, trade, and diplomatic ties. During the Ummayad and Abbasid eras, Islamic civilization flourished in knowledge, science, and commerce, making it a model admired by people worldwide, including Europeans and Russians.

This is affirmed by historian Will Durant in his monumental work The Story of Civilization, where he states: “For five centuries, from 700 to 1200, Islam led the world in power, governance, ethics, human rights, religious tolerance, literature, science, medicine, and philosophy.” This remarkable moral, religious, and scientific prosperity made it a source of inspiration and emulation globally.

Offa Rex and His Era

One striking piece of evidence of this influence emerged in the mid-19th century when a gold dinar was discovered in Britain, bearing inscriptions of Islamic monotheism (Tawhid) and the prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH). Although this dinar had been minted centuries earlier, it only gained widespread recognition after numismatics expert Adrian L. Neuberger presented his report on it to the British Numismatic Society in 1841.

This dinar dates back to the reign of King Offa Rex (OFFA REX), who ruled in the second half of the 8th century CE, around 1,200 years ago. Offa was one of the most influential Anglo-Saxon kings, uniting the fragmented British kingdoms under the Kingdom of Mercia after prolonged conflicts. His reign lasted nearly 40 years, and he is regarded as a key figure in the unification of Britain.

But why did King Offa mint a gold dinar featuring Islamic inscriptions? And why was it found in Rome?

To understand this, we must look at Britain’s history between the 4th and 6th centuries CE. During this period, Germanic tribes—known as the Anglo-Saxons—migrated to Britain from Denmark, Sweden, and Germany. These groups established seven competing kingdoms, with Mercia eventually emerging as the dominant power under Offa’s leadership (ruling from 757 to 796 CE).

Offa’s success in consolidating power was largely due to his economic and military strategies. He famously declared: “A king who seeks to improve his people’s livelihood and secure his legacy must support and promote trade.”

Offa’s Trade Ties with the Islamic World

Offa actively sought diplomatic and trade relations with major European powers, including the Frankish Kingdom (France) and the Holy Roman Empire under Charlemagne. However, he also recognized the growing influence of the Islamic world, which, at the time, was flourishing under the Abbasid Caliphate.

The Encyclopædia Britannica notes that Offa worked to modernize England’s silver and gold coinage to facilitate trade with neighboring regions and the Islamic world, which had a strong presence in Europe due to Muslim advances in Andalusia and southern France.

The Offa Rex Dinar and the Great Controversy

Despite his diplomatic outreach, Offa was hesitant to fully submit to the authority of the Catholic Church in Rome, which was supported by Charlemagne. In retaliation for Offa’s resistance, Charlemagne banned English merchants from trading in France. This forced Offa to strengthen his ties with the Papacy, leading him to pledge an annual tribute of 365 gold coins to Pope Adrian I.

Historians, including Mustafa Al-Kanani in The Era of Offa, King of England, note that early coins minted during Offa’s reign featured a Christian cross and his portrait. However, towards the end of his rule, these symbols disappeared, replaced by a gold dinar inscribed with Islamic monotheistic phrases, dated 157 AH / 774 CE.

One side of the dinar bears the Arabic inscription: “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, sent with guidance and the true religion to prevail over all faiths.” In the center, it reads: “There is no god but Allah, alone without a partner.” The reverse features: “In the name of Allah, this dinar was struck in the year 157.” At its center is inscribed “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” alongside OFFA REX.

This dinar first surfaced in a Roman auction house, leading some scholars to believe it was part of Offa’s tribute to the Papacy. Interestingly, its design closely resembles that of Abbasid dinars from the era of Caliph Abu Ja’far Al-Mansur.

Why Did Offa Imitate the Abbasid Dinar?

Historians have debated Offa’s motivations for minting this coin. One theory suggests that the dominance of the Islamic dinar in global trade, especially across Andalusia and southern France under the Umayyads, compelled European rulers to adopt its format. This aligns with the perspective of British historian Blunt, who argued that Offa sought to facilitate trade with the Muslim world by issuing a currency acceptable to Muslim merchants, as they often rejected coins featuring crosses.

Supporting this theory, Charlemagne himself sought to build relations with the Abbasid Caliphate under Harun al-Rashid, exchanging valuable gifts. Offa may have followed suit, attempting to strengthen ties with the dominant Islamic power of the time.

Another study, The Prestige of Islamic Coins: An Eighth-Century English Imitation of the Islamic Dinar by Jer Bacharach and Sharif Anwar, highlights the concept of “prestige imitation”—where rulers adopted the coinage of dominant civilizations. Evidence shows that Islamic gold dinars were widely recognized in medieval Italy, appearing over 100 times in 8th- and 9th-century Latin documents.

Did Offa Rex Convert to Islam?

Some historians suggest an alternative theory: that Offa’s adoption of Islamic coinage may indicate a personal inclination toward Islam. The fact that the dinar was found in Rome, rather than Britain, raises questions about its purpose. Historian Mustafa Al-Kanani suggests that the tribute sent by Offa might have been a deliberate act of defiance against the Papacy, highlighting his strained relationship with the Church.

Additionally, British numismatics expert Rory Naismith, in Islamic Coins in Early Medieval England, documents the discovery of 173 Islamic silver and gold coins in pre-1100 Britain, confirming strong Anglo-Islamic trade ties. This supports the idea that Muslim traders were active in England during Offa’s reign.

Al-Kanani proposes that Offa’s exposure to Muslim merchants—who were not only businessmen but also Islamic scholars and preachers—may have influenced his beliefs. He draws a parallel with the case of King Negus of Abyssinia, who converted to Islam after interacting with Muslim refugees.

The Lasting Impact of Offa’s Dinar

Whether Offa was a secret convert or merely emulated Islamic coinage for trade, the presence of La Ilaha Illallah on an English dinar 1,200 years ago is a testament to the power and influence of the Abbasid Caliphate. This echoes later instances where Russian monarchs sought Abbasid scholars, doctors, and advisors.

Regardless of the interpretation, Offa’s dinar remains a powerful symbol of Islam’s global reach in the medieval world, highlighting the interplay between faith, commerce, and diplomacy across civilizations.