Relive the fascinating history of Andalus, a gripping story of conquest, peaceful coexistence, Western ideals, civilizational flourishment, materialism, infighting, persecution, and the creation of modernity. Reflecting on this story teaches us many lessons that are extremely relevant to the Muslims of today.
At-A-Glance
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Learn the history of Muslim Spain, and the many lessons it has for Muslims in the modern world
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Explore the lives and ideals of the first Western Muslims, and why Muslims don’t need the Renaissance or Enlightenment
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Discover how we should interact, engage, and coexist with each other
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Understand how and why Muslims should and should not engage with modernity
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Examine how modern civilizations are based on important Islamic principles
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Recognize how historical contexts shaped classical formation of Islamic law, including "minority fiqh"
Does Islam encourage economic prosperity, scientific and philosophical inquiry, and coexistence with people of other faiths?
What is the relationship between Islam and the European Renaissance? What debts does modernity owe to Islam?
What were international politics like before the United Nations?
What is the difference between Muslims living in non-Muslim states before and after modernity?
What are some excesses that Muslims have historically committed and do their actions represent Islam?
What is minority fiqh and is it a good approach to solving Muslim problems today?
What do these questions have to do with Muslim Spain? In reality, they have everything to do with its fascinating history. The value of history is not in dates and politics, but in the lessons to be learned from past experiences. The Muslim experience in Andalus—in addition to being an engrossing and gripping story—has many lessons for Muslims in the modern world. The goal of this course is to tell this gripping story and to use it to reflect on these important lessons.
The history of Andalus is an absorbing story of the first encounter between Islam and the West. It is the story of brave Muslim armies overpowering a Christian civilization; followed by Muslim-Christian-Jewish coexistence under Muslim rule coupled with cultural and civilizational flourishment; followed by Muslim infighting, and Christian domination, reconquest, and expulsion of all Muslim presence; followed later by the creation of modernity on the ashes of Muslim learning and civilization in Andalus.
Andalusian Muslims were the first "Western Muslims." In fact, they were truly the first Westerners, the first group of people who embodied the modern ideals that the West has come to represent. They were shining examples of how we should interact, engage, and coexist with others.
By the end of this course, you will have memorized the most important facts about the history of Andalus. You will also draw important lessons from these facts that are applicable to Muslims today, including the benefits and harms of worldly prosperity, and how and why Muslims should and should not engage with modernity. You will also look at how modern civilizations are based on certain important Islamic principles, but how they differ from the Islamic civilizations that share these important principles. Finally, you will see how historical contexts shaped classical formation of Islamic law.
This course is not just for students of history, but for anyone who wants to understand the consequences of a truly Islamic civilization; the effects this civilization has had on the West and on modernity; why Muslims don’t need a Renaissance or Enlightenment; international politics before international law; the perils of worldliness and greedy materialism; and the origins and applications of "minority fiqh."
