Al Andalus (Islamic Spain)(Part 10)

LESSONS FROM AL ANDALUS :

 We have briefly described about the Muslim rule in Andalus and the Golden Age. We must analyse the secrets behind Muslim success and reasons behind their fall. In last we will discuss some of the key points about it, if we apply those we will be successful today also. 

1. BE BRAVE AND HAVE FAITH IN ALMIGHTY :- 

At the very first we learned how TAARIQ BIN ZIYAD and his small army landed on Gibraltar and determined to win or die. How the great commander addressed his men "O PEOPLE WHERE IS ESCAPE?, OCEAN IS BEHIND YOU, ENEMY IS IN FRONT OF YOU" and with faith in Almighty they won against a huge army. We Muslims are no doubt good in numbers today but we hardly have that courage and faith to face the enemy or challenges. If we learn from TAARIQ Bin Ziyad the lesson of bravery and faith we will able to defeat all the hurdles. 

And please do not mix bravery with the power because we have seen in the Battle of Iqab how Arabs got defeated hence they were good in numbers but they believed that who will defeat such a huge army rather they have believed in Almighty. And this ego resulted in the destruction of Muslim rule in Andalus. 

2. KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS :- 

It is the very important lesson to learn from Andlusian Civilization, as soon as Arabs entered Spain they started establishing schools, colleges, Universities, research centers, libraries etc to spread the knowledge among their people. And the freedom of thought is given to such a great extent that the rare works of Aristotle were translated in Arabic and then to latin which reached to rest of Europe via Andalus. 

The period of dark ages in Europe ;and the Golden Age in Andalus are opposite to each other in the same time sphere. They are highly advanced in science and technology and their research is based on experiments. There were numerous inventions discovered in Andalus which helped them to reach new heights. Jamiya Cordoba and the Library of Hakam II were the finest examples of their love towards seeking knowledge. 

But on the other hand if we look towards current scenarios we Muslims are not just declined the level of seeking knowledge. We have even illiteracy in a large number, we hadn't invented any thing from centuries, we had become just consumers, whatever other countries through on us we will accept. The very precious gift of Almighty to Muslims contries today is Petrol and Oil but we are not in a condition to use it in right manner it is the western science which discovered it and are using it for their industries and we are just getting some pennies as rent enough. If we could have realised the importance of petrol and oil that without it whole world will stuck we may reached some other zenith today. We must and should ensure maximum literacy with quality education and must encourage research in science and technology to regain our golden past. 

3. UNITY IS STRENGTH :-

No doubt about it, like in any time we say Unity is Strength. Arabs got numerous victories in Andalus and France when they fought against their enemies courageously and took control of the new lands with their united powers. 

The conflict of Arab and Berber, Syrian and Yemeni, etc are the root causes for the downfall of Muslim Andalus. Whenever Muslims fight each other they destroy themselves and strengthen the others to have control over them. And in Andalus sometimes Muslims asked Christians to help against other Muslims. So when Muslims forget the very basic concept of "UMMAH" and "BROTHERHOOD". The entire Muslims community people are like brothers and sisters and if we really want to be successful we have to realise it. For the sake of name, money, lands, authority, power etc if we indulged infighting what is happening today we will definitely weaken ourselves and strengthen the others against us and it will cost us more than we cant imagine. 

4. PEACE AND CO-EXISTANCE :- 

Andalus was majorly home for three Abrahamic faiths Muslims, Christians and Jews. Though Muslim armies were fighting against Christians on the borders and on the new campaigns specially towards North that is in France. But within Andalus we saw a different picture the people in Andalus were free to practice their religion of choice. And by paying a small amount of tax they are given right and security of their life and property. Everyone live together with peace and harmony. Scholars of different faiths sit together and discuss on different aspects, issues etc. There was no inequality on the basis of religion. This was the very distinct feature of Andlusian civilization because at the time of religious hatreds Andalus maintains its co-existence. 

We should learn from this and must respect each other's faiths we cannot practice other faiths but we have no rights to disrespect one's faith, if we really adopt it we will see a world without religious hate and violence. Peace will only be possible when we develop the feeling of respect towards others. 

5. STRUGGLE AND RESISTANCE :- 

The way Abdur Rehman bin Muawiya established Ummayad Dynasty is a great example of hardest struggle. By escaping alone to safe his own life by crossing forests, deserts and oceans alone. Reaching Andalus and taking control over was not a easy task. And in the same way how his successors especially Abdur Rehman III Bin Muhammad re united the kingdom and defeated enemies and declared his Caliphate was also a lesson to learn. At the later How Yusuf bin Tashfeen regain the lost Andalus was a great achievement. If we summarize the successful rulers of Andalus and the their common unique feature is "STRUGGLE AND RESISTANCE" the one who sit idle was cursed and the one who accepted oppression was defeated. 

And in the last period what Muhammad bin Yusuf "Al Ahmar" did was also a great example of Struggle. And after him what Nasrids did for two and half centuries was the real period of Struggle and Resistance which they managed to do successfully. 

So with this we must learn that we cannot give up against hard times and challenges we have to struggle to get what we deserves best. And if someone oppressed us we have to show a great resistance so that we or our next generation could succeed one day or other. If we say no nothing will save us, now there is no way to get out of it, this and that, then u will be defeated by yourself.

 "BEING MUSLIM WE CANNOT LOOSE HOPE, JUST BELIEVE IN ALMIGHTY AND DO YOUR BEST" 

We had lost Andalus but if we cannot learn from those achievements and mistakes we will certainly loose what we have so don't repeat mistakes and start achieving new heights from learning the past. 

      History is nothing but rise and fall of civilization.

Al Andalus (Islamic Spain)(Part 9)

FALL OF Al ANDALUS :

After the decline of Al mohads Christian kings seems an ideal time to capture Andalus. Specially Castilians and Aragonese surged forward. The very famous movement called "Re conquista" or Recapture had began. After the defeat in Crusades of Al Quds the European knights began their new crusades to recapture the Andalus from Muslims and huge number of Soldiers were arrived in Northern Spain.
On the other hands a new era of Independent small states had started in Andalus and it was divided into many small states which fell down one after the other on the hands of Christian forces.

FALL OF CORDOBA (1236 AD)
Ferdinand III captured many Andlusian cities between 1229-30 e.g. Merida, Badajoz, Valencia etc. In 1236 AD Ferdinand reached Cordaba, although the attack was unplanned and caught Ferdinand off guard, he rushed to Cordoba and celebrated the city's fall with a symbolic Te Deum of victory by converting The Great Mosque of Cordaba into a Christian Church. The fall of Cordoba was of deep significance and marked the fall of Muslim rule forever. Muslims never recaptured Cordoba and left it on the mercy of Crusaders. The center for knowledge and science, art and architecture, peace and co existence has now become hell for Muslims and Jews and they were forced to expel from their own lands.

Once Cordaba was fell soon the other states or cities fell down one by one. In 1236 Jaen, in 1248 Seville on the hands of Ferdinand III.
Jaime I (1213-1276 AD) King of Aragon took Tortosa, Mallorca, Ibiza and Valencia.
In 1261 Murcia fell in the hands of Alfanso X etc. 

THE LAST MUSLIM DYNASTY
NASRID OF GARNADA
(1237-1492 AD)
At the very crucial time when almost all of Andalus was fell to the Christian wave, a light of hope remained in the southern Andalus. As the Christian conquest demanded a purification of Spain by either converting Muslims and jews into Christianity or to kill or live as a Mujedar. Most of the People migrate to the Grenada the last Muslim stronghold in Andalus.

1. Muhammad bin Yusuf bin Nasr
"Al Ahmar" (1232-1273 AD)
He was the founder of Nasrid Kingdom in Southern Andalus. He was born in 1195 AD in Jaen. The slogan of the Nasrid was "Wa la Ghalib illa Allah" means "There is no conquerer but Allah" with such an enthusiastic slogan he gathered all the Braveheart men and stands strong against the Christian floods over Andalus. He had also signed a treaty with Ferdinand which benefited him to establish a strong kingdom, which last long for more than two and a half century in Andalus. He died in the year 1273 AD. His immediate successor was his son Mohammed II.

AL HAMRA PALACE:
Mohammed I bin Yusuf was known as Al Ahmar because of his red hair. He laid the foundation of Al Hamra palace or Red Palace in his capital city Grenada. Which is a symbol of Muslim architecture in Andalus and remained till date. It is the master piece of Islamic architecture which can only be seen and praised and very hard to describe here in words.

Era of Resistance and Survival :
After the establishment of Nasrid Dynasty in Grenada, it has to struggle a lot for its existence. By paying heavy tributes to the Christian King, Grenada succeeded to withstand and to resist against the Christian tide until the end of the 15th Century. They were always been outnumbered against Christians but resisted and some time collaborated.
Nasrids hold their possession because they had good diplomatic relationships with the Marinids of Africa who emerged as the rulers after Al mohads. They usually supported their Muslim friends in Andalus. Sometimes Nasrids tried hard to regain the lost Prosperity of Arabs in Andalus. But unfortunately they did not succeed and remained in Grenada with its provinces of Almirya and Malaga.
It was the Golden Age for Muslims in Grenada they left Cordaba, Toledo and Seville but Flourished in Grenada, continued their contributions to spread the knowledge and science, art and architecture, lived with examples of co existence between Muslims and Jews. Prominent Scholars like Maimonides belongs to this era.

FALL OF GARNADA :
(1492 AD)
Fall of Constantinople in 1453 AD on the hands of Ottoman Turks sparked a feeling of revenge in Christian world. In the year 1467 King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile married which resulted in the unification of both powers. They determined to take Grenada from Nasrids and asked Pope to declare their struggle as Holy war or Crusade. They had began their preparation for a final war.
In the fall of 1482 the war started. Christian forces were strong enough whereas Muslims were weakened because of mismanagement and revolts specially in such a crucial time, Prince Muhammad revolted against his father the King of Gernada which collapsed all hopes, he was supported by Ferdinand.
Anyhow Nasrid soldiers fought bravely to protect their land, life and property but couldn't succeed.
When the rebellion prince came to the power Ferdinand asked him to surrender the city as he had captured all the provinces earlier. This shocked Abu Muhammad Abdullah who thought that Ferdinand was his ally. Finally this coward man forced to sign a treaty in November 1491. This peace treaty guarantees the protection of Life, property and religious practices of Muslims in Gernada.

ON 22nd JANUARY 1492 ABU ABDULLAH MUHAMMAD HIMSELF  HANDED OVER THE KEYS OF AL HAMRA TO FERDINAND AND ISABELLA AND LEFT THE GREAT ANDLUSIAN LEGACY ON THE MERCY OF CHRISTIAN CRUSADERS.

As soon as they entered and captured Grenada they broke the treaty and crossed all the limits of cruelty and expelled Muslims from Andalus, invaded their Mosques, Houses, palaces. The only choice is to accept Christianity or Die.

THE GREAT MUSLIM CIVILIZATION IN ANDALUS WAS GONE AND NEVER REGAINED. 

Al Andalus (Islamic Spain)(Part 8)

TAIFA OR INDEPENDENT KINGDOMS

(1031-1086 AD) 

After the end of Ummayad Caliphate numerous Amirs, military commanders emerged and where ever they got chance to control declared their independence and started their ruling. Some of the notable are below. 

AUTONOMOUS STATES:

A. Bani Hamood at Malaga

(1035-1058 AD )

B. Bani Idrees at Garnada 

(1018-1090 AD)

C. Bani Ibaad at Seville 

(1023-1083 AD)

D. Bani Zun Noon at Toledo

(till 1085 AD) 

E. Rulers of Saragosa 

(till 1118 AD). Etc 

Hence Andalus was divided into various small states. Usually these states were busy in fighting each other to gain more power and territories. Sometimes Muslim rulers seek assistance from Christian rulers against other Muslim ruler. Christians benefitted from this infighting and marched towards Muslim lands and start capturing it. 

Fall of Toledo : (1085 AD) 

As a result of these conflicts among Muslim states Alfanso IV came forward and attacked over Toledo one of the key state. After a series of wars he succeeded and captured Toledo. This was the first greatest loss of Muslims in Spain. 

Battle of Zallaqa: (1086 AD) 

With the fall of Toledo in the hands of Alfanso IV, he continued his expedition in South of Andalus. To stop Alfanso few Taifa rulers notably Al Mutamid of Garnada asked help from YUSUF BIN TASHFEEN a great military commander and newly emerged Moravid ruler of Africa who recently established himself and became the ruler of Morocco. He was very brave and enthusiastic against rivals of Islam. He responded positively and accepted Andlusian requests. 

Yusuf bin Tashfeen landed in Andalus with his Army. Local Andlusian army was with him. And they reached to battleground of ZALLAQA in the province of Badajoz. Alfanso IV asked help from his Christian friends and gathered a huge army more than Muslims and reached to the ZALLAQA. A Historical battle was fought there, both sides are determined to be victorious. But Alfanso IV was defeated and escaped. This led to the impulse of Muslim rule for next 3 centuries in Andalus. Yusuf Bin Tashfeen came out victorious and thanked Almighty Allah and returned to Africa. 

ALMORAVID ERA : REUNIFICATION 

(1086-1147 AD) 

1. YUSUF BIN TASHFEEN

 (1086-1106 AD) 

After the great assistance by ALMORAVIDS, Andlusian rulers again fell into conflicts. Andlusian people were fed-up with the infightings of Muslim rulers and invasions of Christian rulers. So a group of Highly intellectuals decided to handover Andalus to Yusuf bin Tashfeen for its long-term stability. With this offer a delegation of High ranked scholars and sufis reached Morocco and asked him to take control over Andalus by overthrowing the Taifa rulers. 

Yusuf bin Tashfeen was also well aware about the situation in Andalus he had also planned to conquer Andalus and made it a province of his African Dynasty. And this request did it all for him. Yusuf bin Tashfeen decided to reunite Andalus and marched towards Andalus. 

In 1090 AD he announced a new military campaign against Alfanso of Toledo and Andlusian promised him to help, but no one comes forward. This trigger his anger and he attacked on Garnada and defeated Abdullah for collaboration with Christians and captured it. After this he appointed his best Generals like Sayr bin Abi Bakr, Abu Bakr almirya, Jaroor Al hashmi, Abdullah bin Alhaj, etc. to conquer all the Taifa states. Within a short period of time these great generals defeated almost all Taifas and conquered it. Saragosa, Cordaba, Seville, Murcia, Badajoz, Malaga, one by one fell on the hands of AL MORAVIDS. Yusuf bin Tashfeen appointed his men as the Governors of different provinces and ruled Andalus from Morocco as a province of his Dynasty. In 1106 he died in Morocco and his son Ali came to power and ascended the throne. 

Fall of Saragosa : (1118 AD) 

Though Yusuf's successor reunite Andalus and got new victories and managed to slow down Christian invasions till 1118 AD but soon they got help from France and surrounded Saragosa and captured it. After Toledo this was second biggest loss for Muslims in Andalus. 

Ali bin Yusuf does what he can to maintain the unity of Andalus and protect it from foreign invasion, and was majorly busy in Africa and died in the year 1143. Until this Andalus was united, then his son Tashfeen ascended the throne. He has to tackle the challenges of Al Mohads under the leadership of Abu Abdullah who revolted against AL MORAVIDS, his whole reign was spent in fighting against Almohads. Then the last ruler was Ibrahim bin Tashfeen who killed by Abdul Momin successor of Abu Abdullah in the year 1147. With this AL MORAVIDS era came to an end. 

AL MOHADS ERA :

(1147-1233 AD) 

In the year 1147 Abdul Momin ascended the throne in Morocco as the first ruler of Al mohads. After Moravid declined Andalus was again came under the Taifa rulers, but Abdul Momin was well aware of the importance of Andalus, he send his best Generals to take control over Andalus and soon they captured Cordaba and took control over Andalus. They protected Andalus for another century. Abdul Momin visited Andalus twice and appointed his men for the administration and returned to Africa and died in the year 1163. 

Then his son Yusuf ruled over his legacy between 1163-1184 AD. Then his son Yaqub ascended the throne and his period witnessed many clashes with Portugal and Northern Christian kingdoms. In 1195 AD he got a significant victory against the coalition of Castilian, Aragonian and Portuguese forces under the leadership of Alfanso VIII who sieged Seville with his huge army but defeated badly. In 1199 AD Yaqoob bin Yusuf "Al Mansoor bil Allah" died in Morocco. Abu Abdullah bin Yaqoob succeeded his father, he gathered a huge army and landed into Andalus. 

BATTLE OF IQAB(Punishment) OR 

LAS NAVAS de Tolosa (Spanish) 

(17-July-1212 AD) 

In 1212 AD a historical battle took place called "Battle of Iqab(punishment)". By seeing a huge army of 6 lakhs, Abu Abdullah was over confident and avoided military tactics which resulted in a huge defeat, just few thousand soldiers came out alive. This was the turning point for Muslims in Andalus. It marked a decline in the Al mohads. Soon the era of Al mohads came to an end because there was no capable ruler who may unite its territories and rule. Hardly they ruled till 1269 AD.

To be continued...