[Sherman Logan]

Khurasan is a term for a historical region spanning northeastern and eastern Iran and parts of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and northwestern Pakistan. Because of the hadith, jihadists believe that this is the region from which they will inflict a major defeat against their enemies—in the Islamic version of Armageddon.

Not a very historically literate discussion.

The Abbassids arose in Korasan and in 750 overthrew the previous dynasty of caliphs, taking over the entire Muslim world except Spain. Their banner was solid black.

It seems reasonably obvious that if Mohammed made a true prophecy of black banners out of Khorasan, he was talking about the Abbassids. If he didn't, then the prophecy was likely propaganda produced by the Abbassids to justify (before or after the fact) their rebellion and conquest.

In any case, ignoring Abbassids when discussing black banners and Khorasan is just ignorant.

[Verginius Rufus]

This region was also the core of Tamerlane’s empire (14th century). The older brother Tamerlan seems to have been named for Tamerlane. Tamerlane built up a large empire by defeating many enemies, including the Ottoman Turks.