What was Islam like in Spain?

What was Islam like in Spain?

The Muslim period in Spain is often described as a ‘golden age’ of learning where libraries, colleges, public baths were established and literature, poetry and architecture flourished. Both Muslims and non-Muslims made major contributions to this flowering of culture.

How did Islam get into Spain?

Muslims arrived in Spain during the conquests of the Umayyad Caliphate. The Umayyads had conquered much of northern Africa and crossed the Strait of Gibraltar from Morocco to Spain in 711 AD. They found little resistance. By 714, the Islamic army had taken control of the majority of the Iberian Peninsula.

How religious is Spain?

The majority of the Spanish population is Catholic. Of the Spaniards who identify themselves as religious, 59% claim to rarely attend mass, 13.3% attend mass a few times a year, 9.9% a few times per month, 14.1% almost every Sunday, and 2.2% multiple times per week.

Does Spain believe in God?

According to the Eurobarometer 83 (2015), only 3% of Spaniards consider religion as one of their three most important values, just like in 2008 and even lower than the 5% European average. 59% of Spaniards responded that “they believe there is a God.”

What was life like for Muslims in Spain?

Islamic rule in Spain saw Muslims living side by side with Jews and Christians. In fact, even after the Muslims were forced out of the Iberian Peninsula, many Jews moved with them because they enjoyed having the freedom to worship and the protection of the Muslim leaders.

What was the relationship between Islam and Spain?

Islam and Spain have a special relationship that cannot be comparable to any other nation in Europe. Muslims ruled Spain, or al-Andalus, for more than 700 years, from 711 to 1492 – a period of time during which both the religion and the country thrived as a spiritual, economic and commercial haven.

Are there any places of Islam in Spain?

Nevertheless, all places of worship must have a license from the government. The main mosques in Spain are the Abu Bakr El-Sidik and Marbia masjids. Islam is officially recognized in Spain through the 1967 religious freedom act.

Which is the best surviving Muslim palace in Spain?

The Alhambra Palace, the finest surviving palace of Muslim Spain, is the beginning of a historical journey in this audio feature, In the Footsteps of Muhammad: Granada. In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions