Muslim Spain
by Muhammad Yaseen Abbasi
 Introduction
 CSS questions from past papers
 Discussion on topics
 Questions
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Discussion focus on Muslim Spain
• Conquest of
Umayyads
Spain
and
Governors
under
• Amirate Period in Muslim Spain
• Khilafat in Muslim Spain
• Petty dynasties
• Granada Empire
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CSS Past Questions on Muslim Rulers
in Spain
2010 - Abdur Rehman al nasir was unquestionably the
ablest and most gifted of all the Umayyad sovereigns
who have ruled in Spain. Discuss
2010 - The battle which gave Abdur Rehman Ad dakhil
the throne was fought at Masarah proved a second
MARJ-RAHAT (Ameer Ali)
2009 - Give an account of the conquest of Spain; who
made it a stable and prosperous Muslim state?
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2009 - What fate did Tariq bin Ziyad and Musa bin
Nusayr meet after their invasion of Spain?
2008 - The entrance of the new rulers like
Muslims was a demand of Muslim Society at the
advent of 8th century. Comment
2005 - How did Abdu-al-Rehman-al-Dakhil
conquer Spain? Highlight his contributions to
social welfare of the people of his country.
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2004 - Explain the causes and events of the expansion
of Muslim rule in Spain during the Umayyad period.
2002 - Analyze the character of Abdur-al-Rehman III as
a man, administrator and as patron of art and
literature.
2001 - Explain the reasons of the conquest of Spain at
the hands of Arabs, especially mentioning the arrival of
Tariq bin Zjyad in that country.
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2001 - Examin the political and dynastical factors
leading to the final collapse of the Muslim rule in
Al-Andulas.
2000 - What kind of Muslim administration and
society developed in Spain during the Umayyad
governors of Spain (714-756)? Discuss
2000 - What were the reasons for the downfall of
the Muslim rule in Spain? Discuss.
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1998 - Describe the grandeur and progress of Spain
during the reign of Abdur Rehman-III
1998 - Describe the main features of the central
administration under the UMMAYADS of SPAIN.
1998 - Discuss the political, social and economic
conditions of Spain at the time of Muslim conquests.
1991 - Discuss the character and achievements of
HISHAM I of CORDOVA.
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MAIN FOCUS
a- Political, social, economic and religious conditions of Spain before Muslim
conquest.
b- Reasons and the events of the conquest of Spain by Muslims with special
reference to Tariq Bin Ziyad and Musa Bin Nusayr.
c- Character and achievements of:
-Abdur Rehman I
-Hisham I
-Abdur Rehman II
-Abdur Rehman III
d- Administration and Social development in Spain by Muslim rulers
e- Causes of the downfall of Muslim rule in Spain
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CSS questions on Muslim Art, Architecture,
Knowledge, Sciences, Philosophy, History in Spain
2010 - Write comprehensive note on Muslim
architecture in Spain with special reference of
QASR AZ ZAHRA and AL HAMBRA
2010 - Discuss the main features of Muslim
contributions to philosophy in Spain with brief
notes on any three important philosophers of
that period
2009-write a note on Muslim’s contributions in
Spain in natural or social sciences.
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2009-How did Imam MAlik’s Muwatta leave a strong impact
in Spain? Discuss.
2008- Give an analytical study of the evolution of the
Muslim Architecture from the mosque of cordova upto the
Alhamra of Granada
2007- Highlight the achievements of Ibn Khaldun and Ibn
Rushd.
2006- Write a comprehensive note on Muslim architecture
in Spain with special reference to some of the important
buildings of Corodva and Granada.
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2005-Write a note on the life and academic contributions of Ibn
Sina(Avicenna) and Ibn Rushd(Averroes).
2005-Harun al Rashid and Mamun al Rashid contributed a great
deal towards different disciplines of knowledge. Substatiate with
historical facts.
2004-Discuss the chief features of Muslim contribution to
philosophy in Spain with brief notes on any three important
philosophers of that period.
2003-Andulas was the greatest seat of learning and research during
the Muslim rule. Describe some of the major political and
philosophical contributions of the period and its glory.
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2003-Ibn Khaldun is known as one of the most
authentic Muslim historian of his time.
Describe his contribution in historical field.
2002-Describe some philosophical
political writings in Andalus.
and
2002-Discuss the contribution of the Muslims
in the field of pottery and calligraphy.
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2001-Critically analyze the contribution of the Muslims
of Spain to History with special reference to the works
of Ibn Khaldun.
2001-Critically evaluate the Muslim contribution in the
field of architecture, Music, painting, pottery and
calligraphy under the Muslim rulers of Spain.
2000-Thoroughly analyze the works of Ibn Sina which
brought revolution in European medical sciences.
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Conditions of Spain before Muslim
conquest
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•
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Middle class under torture of the Gothic Kings
Serfs/Slaves in worst condition
Jews persecuted by Bishops
Roderic usurped throne of King Witiza
Grudge of Count Julian
– Ceuta capture
– Insult of Florinda
• Count Julian invited Musa bin Nusayr the
Governor of the Mediterranean Coast
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Events of conquest of Spain
• Tariq captured Gibraltar defeated Roderick on
the banks of the river Guadalete near Medinia
Sidonia in September,711
• Tariq captured Cordova and Toledo the then
capital city
• Musa landed in Spain in June 712 and was
called back
• The Christians of Asturias remained
unsubdued
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Results of conquest of Spain
• Removal of social inequality
• Slaves / serfs set free ‘no hope of freedom’,
Ameer Ali
• Toleration of religion
• Agriculture and trade improved
• The Moors organized that wonderful kingdom of
Cordova which was marvel of the Middle Ages
and which when all Europe was plunged in
Barbaric ignorance and strife alone held the torch
of learning and civilization bright and shining
before the western world
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• Development of Spain
• Each of 4 provinces Andalusia, Toledo Galicia and
Barcelona under efficient governor
• Diwan for betterment of subjects
• Interaction in society encouraged
• Impetus to arts and sciences
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Abdur Rahman (139-172 AH/756788AD)
• In Spain the tribal rivalry was a four cornered
struggle between the Arab tribes and Berbers
between Arabs and Spanish Muslims called
Biladium and finally Muslims and Christians
• Abdur Rehman ibn muawiyah, a grandson of
Hisham eluded the vengeance of as saffah
• Abdir Rehman at Ceuta. Himyarites in Spain
supported him against the then governor Yusuf in
the battle of Masarah
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• The rebellious Arab nobles supported by Frankish
king Pepin and his son Charlemagne were
supported
• Invasion of Spain by Charlemagne
• With Abdur Rehman in Spain power of the driven
and homeless Umayyad began to rise in the
western horizon
• Abdur Rehman was a great general conqueror
great empire builder administrator poet patron of
learning and arts. He united Spain
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Hisham I (172-180AH/788-796AD)
• Mild and liberal administrator suppressed
rebellion of his brothers and others in Saragossa
and Barcelona
• Tackled the Frankish in the north
• Maliki doctrine became the state religion of
Andalusia
• He was a just and generous ruler
• He rebuilt bridge of Cordova and completed the
cathedral mosque
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Hakam (180-207AH/796-822AD)
• Surrounded by enemies
• Capture of Barcelona by the franks
• Peace restored in Toledo by Amrus
• Leaders of cordovan rebellion executed
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• His 26 years reign was one of struggle and
trouble
• Wise courageous and accomplished one and
the first among Andalusian sovereigns who
surrounded himself with pomp and pageantry
• He was not on good terms with faqihs
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Abdur Rehman II (207-238AH/822852AD)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
His reign was one of peace and splendour
The raids of Christian tribesmen
The inroad of the Normans
The agitation of the Christians in Cordova
Love of arts and letters
Cordova turned into second Baghdad
Ziryab the musician in his court
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Weak Amirs on eve of Khilafat in Spain
• Muhammad (238-273AH/853-886AD)
• Munzir (273-275AH/886-888AD)
• Abdullah (275-300AH/888-912AD)
• “Andalusia became filled with disturbance and
rebels arose on every side and thus it remained
throughout his reign” Ibn Athir
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Abdur Rehman III (300-350AH/912961AD)
• He was accepted as saviour of the empire
• Submission of the rebels after his stern policy
that he would not permit disobedience
• Retreat of the Christians in the North
• Assumed the title of khalifah-al nasir-li-Din
Allah (the defender of the faith of God)
• Abdur Rehman was driven out of Africa
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•
•
•
•
Restoration of peace and order saviour of Spain
Prosperity of Spain under him
Architecture flourished
300 mosques,100 splendid palaces ,1300 houses
and 300 public baths in cordova
• Kings of Constantinople, German,France and Italy
sent embassies to his court
• He is compared with Akbar the Great, Umar I(RA)
and Harun ar-Rashid
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Hakam II (350-366AH/961-976AD)
• Scholar , soldier with peaceful temperament
• He loved literature and the sciences and showered his
munificence on men of learning”, says Ibn Khaldun
• Imperial library of Cordova had the catalogue of fortyfour volumes
• Everybody knew how to read and write in Spain, whilst
in Christian Europe, save and except the clergy , even
person belonging to the highest ranks were wholly
ignorant”.
• University of Cordova was one of the most renowned
in the world.
• The Augustan Age of Arabian learning in Spain
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Decline of Muslim Spain
• Hisham II ruled through Muhammad bin Abi Amir,
trusted agent of his mother Subh
• Hajib al-mansur known as the Bismarck of the
tenth century.
• “He had given to Spain a power which it had not
enjoyed even in the times of Abdur Rehman III”
says Dozy.
• Muzaffar and Abdur Rehman latter called as
Sanchol ruled after him
• Alfanso V of castile captured leon, Navare and
Toledo
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Splendour of Cordova
•
“It is the Bride of Andalusia. To her belong all the beauty and the
ornaments that delight the eye. Her long line of sultans forms her crown
of glory, her necklace is strung with the pearls which her poets have
gathered from the ocean of language; her dress is of the banners of
learning, well knit together by her men of science and the masters of
every art and industry are the hem of her garments”, says an Arab writer
•
No city of Europe could compare with Cordova in the beauty of her
buildings the luxury and refinement of her life and the learning and
accomplishments of her inhabitants
•
Palace of Zahra was the wonder of the then world
•
In arts science and civilization the Moorish city of Cordova was indeed the
brightest splendour of the world
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Petty Muslim dynasties of Spain
• The Almoravides (al-murabitun) in western
Africa under Yusuf bin Tashfin
• The
Almohads(al-muwahhidun)
Muhammad ibn Tumrat
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Kingdom of Granada
• Muhammad ibn Yusuf ibn Nasr commonly known as ibn alahmar,the founder of Granada could not withstand the power of
Christians under Ferdinand III of castile and Isabella of Aragon
• Abul Hassan refused to pay customary tribute
• On 3 January 1492 AD fall of Granada happened “no less than 3
millions of Moors were banished”
• “With the disappearance of Muslims ,the Christian Spain shone for
a while like a moon with a borrowed light , then came the eclipse
and on that darkness Spain has groveled ever since”
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Causes of Fall of the Umayyad Khilafat
in Spain
• Weak successors of Hakam II and Hajib alMansur
• Bitterness of the rule of Mansur thru 52
campaigns
• Disunity of Arab nobility
• Enmity of the slave and Berbers and
overthrow of the last Umayyad khalifah
Hisham III by Berbers
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• Economic deadlock
• Christians of north Spain
• Disintegration of the empire
• Moral degradation of the rulers
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Cultural progress in Muslim Spain
• Granada, Cordova, Seville and Toledo produced
eminent scholars, distinguished poets, accomplished
soldiers; men fit in every respect to serve as models
• Ibn Abdur Rabbi the distinguished author in literature
• Ali Ibn Hazn thinker and scholar who wrote 400
volumes on logic, history, theology,etc
• Abul wahid Ahmed ibn zaydun ,poet
• “Ibn khaldun was the greatest historical philosopher
Islam produced and one of the greatest of all
time”,writes Hitti
• Al –Bakri and al –idrisi, the geographers
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• Ibn Batuta , Ibn jubayr and al-Idrisi, travelers
• Al-majrite of cordova,al-zarqali of Toledo and
Ibn Aflah of Seville , the astronomers
• Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn al-Baytar the botanist
• Al –zahrawi and Ibn zuhr, the physicians
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• Solomon bin Gabirol ,Abu Bakr Muhammad
ibn yahya ibn Bajjah, Abu Bakr Muhammad
ibn Abdul malik ibn Tufayl were the
philosophers of Muslim Spain
• Ibn Rushd wrote:
– Al-kulliat fi-at-tibb on medicine
– Tahafat al-Tahafat (the incoherence of the
incoherence) on philosophy
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