Al-Andalus Discovering Spain’s Islamic Lost Legacy
Golden sandstone buildings, fresh Spanish orange juice in abundance and sunshine galore! There is something so intrinsically astonishing about the Spanish culture. This charming country, ranked second on the World Tourism Organization’s list of most visited countries in the world, with its number of international visitors amounting to over 80 million in 2018 (Statista).
However, there is so much more to the laid back lifestyle on offer to visitors. The enchanting art and architecture found in the Grand Mosque of Cordoba and Alhambra Palace radiate the rich history of Islamic civilisation in Spain. These indelible stamps that the Islamic Empire left in Medieval Spain are viewed now as prized ornaments of the world, thus attracting flocks of visitors for many years. But first, we shall take a look at the inception of Al-Andalus. How did Muslims end up here in the first place?
Basharat Mosque, Pedroabad, Cordoba
History and the Conquest
Spain was under Islamic rule for around 800 years between 711 to 1492. Al-Andalus was the name given by the Muslims who ruled the Iberian Peninsula at the time, consisting mainly of the South-Western regions of Spain and Portugal.
The Islamic conquest of Spain is considered one of the greatest conquests in history. In a mere 100 years, Islam had spread from one small city to over 3 different continents. The very origins of Islam dates all the way back to the early 7th Century with the preaching of the message of Islam by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) in Arabia. Despite initial opposition and suffering severe hardships at the hands of non-Muslims, the Holy Prophet (saw) conquered the hearts of many and reclaimed Mecca in the year 630. Thereafter, the Holy Prophet (saw) along with his Muslim followers began spreading the message of Islam and soon the message had been accepted across the Arab peninsula.
By the time of Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra)’s caliphate, Muslim troops had taken over Egypt and Libya. Islam had reached North Africa (Tunisia, Libya, Morroco and Algeria) during the reign of the 3rd khalifa, Hazrat Uthman ibn Affan (ra).
Islam arrived in Spain in 711 A.D. Under the orders of the Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid I, Muslim commander Tariq ibn Ziyyad led a large army from the north coast of Morocco, combining his troops at a large hill now known as Gibraltar, derived from the Arabic name Jabal Tāriq (جبل طارق), meaning “mountain of Tariq,”named after him. With his 12,000 troops he advanced to conquer Spain against the Christian ruler Roderick and his army of 100,000. Roderick was killed in the battle and Tariq bin Ziyyad claimed victory over Spain. His aim was to propagate Islam and bring the message of peace to Europe.
Upon seeing the enemy advancing, Tariq ibn Ziyyad courageously burnt his boats and addressed his troops:
“Oh my warriors, whither would you flee? Behind you is the sea, before you, the enemy. You have left now only the hope of your courage and your constancy… Remember that if you suffer a few moments in patience, you will afterward enjoy supreme delight… The one fruit which he desires to obtain from your bravery is that the word of God shall be exalted in this country, and that the true religion shall be established here. The spoils will belong to yourselves.”
(The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, Charles F. Horne, Vol. VI: Medieval Arabia, pp. 241-242.)
This boosting of morale was the result of a dream in which Tariq ibn Ziyyad saw the Holy Prophet (saw) encouraging him to advance forward.
Religious Tolerance
Encapsulated in the Andalusian era is the significant fact that the Iberian Peninsula was a relatively peaceful place of coexistence for the main religious denominations. It was a predominantly Muslim society that accepted the three other monotheistic communities, letting them freely practice their religion. Muslims, Jews and Christians lived side by side. It was a time when religion and state were not divided, but were in fact united.
What was truly remarkable was that it was the only place in the whole of Europe that harmoniously shared a common culture, a state that many of us yearn for in these modern tumultuous times. The Spanish refer to this state by the phrase ‘Conde Vencia’ which means living together.
According to the Islamic scholar Jacques Berque, one of the most harmonious communities in Europe was Al-Andalus. Juan Goytisolo, a Spanish writer, on the other hand writes: “We suffer from historical amnesia,” implying that they have no such memory of this tolerant era.
Author Fernandez-Morera denotes the notion that al-Andalus was a halcyon period of religious harmony that can be a model for the current relations between Abrahamic faiths. (Dario Fernandez – Morera, The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise: Muslims, Christians, and Jews under Islamic Rule in Medieval Spain, 2016)
Though historians agree to differ in their views about the level of tolerance, what they often overlook is the fact that the arrival of Islam relieved the oppression of Spanish citizens at the hands of the Christian ruler Roderick and the significant changes to society it bought.
Basharat Mosque Pedroabad, Cordoba
The Golden Era
Many Christians in Spain assimilated parts of the Muslim culture. Some learned Arabic, some adopted the same clothes as their rulers (some Christian women even started wearing the veil; some took Arabic names. Christians who did this were known as Mozarabs.
One of the many achievements of this extraordinary time was that Al-Andalus flourished as a place of learning in the arts. Muslims and non-Muslims contributed towards establishing libraries, colleges and public baths. It was a time when literature, poetry and architecture grew luxuriantly. Medicine, law, and philosophy all have roots in Andalusia with enduring legacies to this day.
The Fall of Islamic Spain
Islamic Empire in Spain began crumbling due to tensions arising between Muslims and Christians and eventually the Muslim Empire was defeated and punished by 1492. It was a turbulent time for Muslims. Researchers have narrated that Muslim children were separated from their parents and forced to live with Christian families to adopt their ways. Families were forced to convert to Christianity, settle in Valencia or be driven out of the land.
A famous poet and one of the greatest writers and statesmen of Muslim Spain writes a memory of this time while serving time in prison for heresy in 1374: “Great and powerful we were, wretched we have become; Yesterday we used to feast, today we are feasted upon.” Ibn al-Khatib (The Double Vizier, (1313-74), as quoted in Beyond Love, Ikram Masmoudi, p.1).
Hope
In search of the Golden Era of Andalus, professor Jacques Berque comments: “I look to the spirit of Andalusia to keep faith alive within ourselves, drawing both on its heaps of rubble and the hopes we must never let go.” (Jacques Berque, Collège de France, as cited in Fes Forum, Day Four: The Memory of Andalusia: Development through Culture, Katherine Marshall, 2013)
One day Islam was to make a return to this magnificent region with such force that the Islamic faith woud be revived. Remarkably, it was through the efforts of the Ahmadiyya Community, guided by the institution of Khilafat that sowed the seeds for Islam’s eventual return.
The pioneer missionary, Maulana Karam Illahi Zafar was sent to Spain by Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih II (ra) to re-estabish Islam. Through humble steps, Karam Illahi diligently conveyed the message of Islam Ahmadiyya to the Spanish population against the backdrop of civil unrest and intolerance towards Islam in the predominantly Catholic society.
After years of dedicated service, he was tasked with finding a suitable location for the construction of a Mosque and on October 9 1980 the foundation stone for the Basharat Mosque in Pedro Abad was laid by Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih III (rh). The historic inauguration of the Mosque took place on September 10, 1982 under the auspices of Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV (rh) marking the opening of the first purpose built Mosque in Spain since the end of the 15th century.
More recently, in 2013 our beloved Huzur, Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V (aba) visited Spain. Huzur (aba) instructed the Azaan to be called. It echoed deep into the valleys of Valencia, where Islam once prevailed. Thus, the fulfillment of the proclamation of Allah to the Promised Messiah (as) “I shall cause Thy message to reach the corners of the earth,” was once again being witnessed and “the word of God” was being exalted.
Huzur (aba) graciously inaugurated the Baitur Rehman Mosque in Valencia and assured the Spanish people that the new Mosque would be a source of peace and compassion. The Mosque would foster a spirit of togetherness and unity within the society.”
“Whoever comes here with pious intentions, be it a Muslim or non-Muslims, will have the doors of the Mosque always open to them.”
After witnessing the warm welcome of locals and the Mayor of Valencia, Huzur (aba) concluded that he was confident that Muslims will always be welcomed in Spain whole- heartedly. Insha Allah may the words of our Khalifa be blessed and may Spain rise again to splendor and sophistication by regaining its legacy of being the cultural bridge between the different religions of the world due to Islamic teachings. We pray may the political leaders of today’s fractured world benefit from the lessons of the golden era of Andalusia.