Summary: Christian Visigoth In Spain

How would you characterize relations between Muslims, on one hand, and Christians and Jews on the other in Al Andalus (Arabic Spain)

The Muslims continued to expand territory relentlessly, throughout the sixth and the seventh century, the century of the prophet Muhammad’s death. In 711 the Islamic armies led by Berber (north African Muslim tribesmen) Tariq ibn-Ziyad crossed the straight of (Gibraltar) from Maghreb (Morocco) and rapidly advanced north conquering Visigoth Spain (Germanic Christian rulers) within seven years. In establishing an Islamic state throughout the Iberian peninsula,(todays Spain and Portugal combined), which centered in Cordoba in the heart of the peninsula. In the seventh century Spain influenced by the Roman
Empire prior to the rule of the Christian Visigoths was primarily a multi-cultured society with inhabitants of different faiths mainly Christians and minority Jews. This essay will examine and identify the relationship between the Muslim rulers after the conquest on one hand and the Christians and Jews on the other and describe the social, political and cultural changes that were to follow in the coming years and centuries.

As its written in Quran(the sacred book of Islamic faith), Muslims acknowledge the fact that elsewhere in the Islamic world, Jews, along with other religious minorities holding sacred books, such as Christians, were to be considered Ahl al-Kitab (people of the book), and their religion to be tolerated.
In view of this fact Jews and Christians living in the Iberian Peninsula were given special legal status that allowed them to practice their religions providing they adhered to certain Islamic social restrictions. Although documentary evidence on the state of the Jewish communities prior to 711AD is not readily available, yet what evidence there are shows that during the rule of Christian Visigoth in Spain, there were hostilities towards the Jews, their numbers had visibly declined and was not far from extinction. In contrast, at the beginning of the eighth century the Islamic legal system provided an opportunity for re-establishment of their culture and revival of their
numbers.1

The Muslims conquered large areas of land, with large populations of Christians and Jews.2 There was a lot that was attractive about Islam that the Christians and especially the Jews liked; given the treatment they had received under the rule of the Visigoths. It is important to state that the embracement of Muslim rule happened after the arrival of Abdul Rahman 1st (a prince of the Umayyed dynasty ruling in Damascus) who escaped a bloody coup against his family, carried out by Abbasid caliphate and arrived in Al Andalus in 755AD. At that time there had been tensions growing within the different factions of the Berbers(conquering north African nomads) and splinters had begun. The Berbers resented both the Arab aristocracy and being treated as Second class citizens. Abdul Rahman was able to unite some of the Berber factions and led a decisive uprising against the corrupt governor Yusuf. He founded the Umayyed dynasty in Al Andalus, declared himself The Emir (leader), made Cordoba his capital and ordered the construction of the magnificent Cordoba mosque which rivaled the beautiful buildings and architecture of his native Damascus.

For the next two centuries Spain along with its population of Muslims, Christians and Jews flourished under the Islamic rule and rivaled Damascus and Baghdad both culturally and economically. The ninth and tenth centuries were defining periods, in which the social fabric of Al Andalus was changed/developed. Scores of Christians and Jews converted to Islam and embraced the Islamic culture. Interfaith marriages and integration into the Islamic society enabled the followers of other religions,(Christians and Jews)
To move up the social ladder, particularly during the rein of, Abdul Rahman 3rd(r.912-961) in the tenth century. It brought civilization of the highest order and an enormous demographic migration of Arabs, Jews, Moors and other races. Some Christians and Jews learned the Arabic language and interacted with Muslims to provide one of the most durable and distinctive periods in Europe’s political and cultural life.
3The great impact of Islamic era and it’s culture in Spain on Christianity is not an over statement. Islam’s conquests transformed Europe into Christianity’s main center. In doing so and by way of surrounding Europe with Islamic controlled territory cut the Christians off from almost all-direct interaction with other faiths and cultures.

In spite of the fact that arguably life for Christians and Jews under the Islamic rule of Spain would be unacceptable in today’s world, in many ways the non-Muslims of Islamic Spain (at least before 1050) were tolerated better than conquered people of that period of history might have expected.
They were not forced to make a choice between converting to Islam and dying and were not enslaved nor prevented from practicing their religion (except practicing it too obviously e.g. ringing of bells or chanting too loudly). No evidence of segregation or living in designated areas is found and no restrictions were placed on any particular method of earning a living. There were Christians and Jews working in the civil service of the Islamic rulers, and despite some having to do unpleasant jobs which were shunned by Muslims, there were jobs in banking and dealing in precious metals especially done by Jews.
4

A different outlook to tolerating Christians and Jews under the Islamic rules in Al Andalus Spain is given by some to be living under restrictions known as the state of ‘dhimmitude’ 5(A dhimmi is a non Muslim living in an Islamic state who does not have the same privileges of a Muslim but is not a slave). Some say the reasons for tolerating Christians and Jews were on conditions that these religious minorities accepted Islamic-power and superiority, avoided blasphemy and did not try to convert Muslims. The authorities laid down other rules for the ‘dhimmies’ to obey which included the need to wear a special badge for non-Muslims, paying higher taxes, unable to inherit from a Muslim, unable to own Muslim slaves, given lower compensation than Muslims for the same injury, and prohibited from carrying weapons.
There were also distinct divisions in the society along ethnic and religious lines, with the Arab tribes topping the ranking, followed by Berbers and converts to Islam, and Christians and Jews at the very bottom. There were several reasons why the Muslim rulers tolerated other religions in Spain including, monotheistic faiths of the Christians and Jews in which they worshipped the same god, greater number of Christians than Muslims, impracticality of mass conversion and execution, the expense related to controlling the beliefs of so many people, and the benefit of using them in various government/administrative positions because of non-attachment to various Muslim groups (Berbers, converts) with ability to easily discipline/dismiss them.

The conquest of Spain by Muslims totally changed the conditions and traditions of medieval Christian population of that country. The legendary Visigoth “Christian monarchy” with it’s well chronicled glorification of the past had fled Spain and abandoned it to the invading Muslims and could not be the their savior. The Christians
Who took part in reclaiming Spain from Muslims were of a different breed altogether, and learned the lessons, early and well of not exactly tolerance,(in the modern understanding), at least of cooperation. That was only one of the many things which made Spain exceptional, and which the rest of Europe could have learned from it to its profit.
The Jews living under the Muslim dominion flourished.6 Some acquired the knowledge, which enabled them to elevate themselves to the highest ranks of political power. The advantage of having a common language, near identical religious beliefs, and a common culture, with Muslims were all contributing factors to the successful integration of Jews into Muslim society. Their numbers grew multifold in comparison to Visigoth period when they were close to extinction, and many of them gained positions of great usefulness in society, and important influence, in government, and politics. Looking at their interaction history with Muslims in other countries under the Islamic rule between 8th and 15th century and measuring it by a yardstick, the Jews produced their greatest literature, philosophical, and scientific works in Spain under the Islamic rulers. This inspired them to cross the divide and use this model of cultural adaptation in the Europe post termination of Islamic Spain. The political influence, and intellectual achievements of the Spanish Jewry, are far better known than their social conditions.

Medieval Spain’s Muslims, Christians, and Jews respected and dismissed each other’s faith traditions and customs, fought alongside
Each other and against each other, from time to time tolerated their neighbors and somehow left a golden legacy for each religion. They show us a glimpse of what a common society might look like. Their glory was their joint accomplishment, which tragically they could not observe and preserve what made those achievements possible. They proved that in humanity, tolerance, and mutual respect everything good is possible before finally and somehow hastily turning towards the dark nature of religious enmity and intolerance. Sadly humanity has never completely found a way back. Medieval Spain might help show the direction.

Bibliography

BBC – Religions – “Muslim Spain (711-1492)”, accessed November 15th 2013, http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/spain_1.shtml

C. Lowney, A Vanished World: Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Medieval Spain (New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 14.

E. Alfonso, Islamic Culture Through Jewish Eyes: Al-Andalus from the tenth to twelfth century (New York: Routledge, 2008), 3.

J. Lassner, Jews, Christians, and the Adobe of Islam: Modern Scholarship, Medieval Realities (Chicago: Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data), 202.

N. Davies, Europe (London, Pimlico, 1997), 257.

N. Roth, Jews, Visigoths & Muslims in Medieval Spain Cooperation and Conflict (New York: Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data, 1994), 1.

S.K. Jayyusi, The Legacy of Muslim Spain (Boston and London: Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data, 1992), 188.