Spain’s Islamic Legacy By Munazza Khan
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 2018.1 However, there is so much more to Spanish culture than 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? 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 date all the way back to the early 7th Century with the preaching of the message of Islam by the Holy Prophet Muhammadsaw in Arabia. Despite initial opposition and suffering severe hardships at the hands of non-Muslims, the Holy Prophetsaw conquered the hearts of many and reclaimed Mecca in the year 630. Thereafter, the Holy Statista, Number of international tourists arriving in Spain in 2019, 2020. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/447683/foreign-tourists-visiting-spain-by-country-of-residence/. (Accessed 06/07/2020)
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