About the Book









بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Didn’t Al-Andalus fall in 1492CE? Why were the Muslims in such a humiliating state after the fall? Was it necessary for the Muslims in Al-Andalus to migrate to Islamic lands after it came in the hands of the disbelievers? Can the situation of the Muslims then and now be compared?

This fascinating new book deals with an aspect of Al -Andalus that has not yet been the focus of any English speaking Muslim Scholar. It is a voluminous release and covers briefly the period of Muslims in Andalus from the opening of Andalus by Tariq bin Ziyad to the fall of Garnata in 1492 CE. The focus of the book is what happened to the Muslims of Andalus after the fall of Garnata (Granada).

Why does it matter? Why should we know about our history? In order for the Muslim Ummah to go back to its roots we must study our history and take heed from its lessons, both the ups and the downs. Additionally, the situation of the Muslims living in the West today poses a striking similarity to the situation of the Muslims in Al- Andalus post 1492 (when the last Muslim ruler surrendered the last Muslim stronghold of Granada to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella). This marked the official end to Islamic rule in Al- Andalus. The end of Islamic rule was also marked by the Capitulations of Granada which was signed between Abu Abdullah Muhammad the Twelfth and the Spanish Crown of Castille. The agreement seemed to be made binding upon the Spanish Crown of Castille but as we shall see, it was broken within ten years after the agreement was put into effect.

Muslims lived in Andalus for at least two hundred years after the fall. Their lives were not easy. In many cases they were forced to give up their identities, could not practice Islam in public, they were not allowed to speak Arabic (and therefore could not pray in congregation) or even give their children Muslim names! So what began as tolerance for the practice of Islam in Al- Andalus and allowing for their affairs to be judged under Shari’ah courts (Capitulations of Granada) slowly but surely led to the persecution of the Muslims of Al-Andalus until no trace of Islam in Andalus was to be found.

The book includes within it:

1. Imam Ghazali’s fatwa to Yusuf Bin Tashfin to fight the Muslim rulers fighting alongside the kuffaar and implementing other than Allah’s law.

2. Numerous documents pertaining to the life, worship and jihad conducted by those Muslims within Andalus.

3. All of the work is analyzed not just through the prism of Andalusi and Maghribi politics but through the perspective of the deen (Qur’an and Sunnah) and global events at the time as well.

The book will be posted in chapters and segments every three to four days in sha Allah on the ‘The Book’ section of the blog. Any comments or feedback for possible amendments to the layout of this blog would be greatly appreciated. Jazakum Allahu Khair.