Siqilliya Mia is a website dedicated to exploring the history and celebrating legacy of Muslim Sicily. Siqilliya or صِقِلِّيَة is Sicily in Arabic and Mia means “my” in Italian. The title is a nod to the poem “Sicilia Mia” by Ibn Hamdis.

A note on terminology: There are many imperfect words in English that can be used to describe the historical period of that this website refers to as “Muslim Sicily.” We could say “Arab” or “Arabic” (a distinction that does not exist in Italian) Sicily but neither would not be fully accurate. Both Arabs and north African Berbers made up Muslim Sicily. Similarly, Not all Muslims spoke Arabic in Sicily. While Arabic was the main language of Muslim Sicily, it coexisted with Latin and Greek under the Normans and ultimately outlived the presence of Muslims on the island. For the sake of consistency with scholars such as William Granara and others without whose scholarship this website would not be possible, we will use “Muslim Sicily.”

Me: My name is Nick Gulotta. I am not a professional historian but rather a lover of history who is particularly fascinated with the history and legacy of Muslim Sicily. I will always share my sources and I welcome any corrections, debate, or encouragement in the comments.