The Iberian peninsula what nowadays its known as Spain and Portugal were once the same country, governed by a tyrant king. King Roderick had established a feudal system that was impoverishing the people of the land , with the support of the catholic church, all other religions and forms of belief were brutally persecuted, and there was a general discontent among the people inhabiting the Iberian peninsula.
Spain geographically its located in an ideal position between Europe and Africa, making the Iberian peninsula a land were many cultures and different peoples coincide, a rich land full of diversity.
The historical context was the ideal situation to welcome the hope that the outsiders from the African continent brought with. This outsiders were the Muslim men of Musa Ibn Nusayr and the armies of Tariq Ibn Ziyad, send by the Emir of Damascus.
The fast spread of Islam in the Iberian Peninsula, what then became Al Andalus, one of the most splendorous times of Islam in history, it can be argued that came about due to three circumstances:
- The former status quo was impoverishment of the people through high taxation and tyranny, while Islam and the Muslim’s promised justice, and the implementation of the pilar of Zakat, which for the people felt as a relief.
- The oppressed people of the Iberian peninsula were in large Visigoths, Arian Christian, they believed in one God. During that time a council approved by the Arian Christians to respect and knowledge all unitarian believers, hence the Muslims and their believe in the Tawhid , the unity of God, were much closer to them in essence to their believe.
- The sophistication and knowledge that the Muslims brought across the mediterranean sea all the way from Damascus and the North Africa to the Iberian Peninsula, promised new avenues of commerce and prosperity to the people.
So although there were battles initially were many died to conquer the land, a great deal of it was acquired with small resistance, soon the Muslims started trading with the locals, alliances were forged and the Muslims and Islam were welcomed to the Iberian Peninsula.
This brief explanation of the some of the aspects that brought Islam into the Iberian Peninsula in such short period of time, are just few hints to welcome the visitor to join a Muslim tour with a local Muslim agency in Spain in order to discover the past, the present and the future of Islam in Spain.
