# Why is al-Andalus so important to Muslims?

*Why al-Andalus matters*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/7uxklqh8-ig/s/4/
- Date: 2014-07-02 · Kind: question · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Insights to a personal journey: An interview with Mufti Abu Layth (12:53–18:32)
- Status: general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UXKLQH8-ig&t=773s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/7uxklqh8-ig/

**Topics:** Al-Andalus and the Maghrib; The Maliki school

**Question as asked:** What's the hype with Islamic Spain?

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Al-Andalus was eight centuries of native Muslim civilisation in Europe, shaped by the Maliki school, and its rise and fall hold lessons for Muslims today.

**Checked position (checked by two independent reviews, not by the channel):** Mufti Abu Layth says he feels the Maliki madhhab was instrumental in the survival of al-Andalus.

**Evidence, his words at 14:10:** “I do believe that having the Maliki maab as almost its you know as one of its kind of driving forces in shaping the society was instrumental in its survival” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UXKLQH8-ig&t=850s)

## Longer summary

Mufti Abu Layth says he is attached to al-Andalus because of its closeness to Britain and because it was the bastion of Islam on European soil for almost eight centuries, its Muslims natives rather than immigrants, leading the way for Europe. He says he feels the Maliki school, through its elasticity and its principles, was instrumental in its survival, while noting that people may argue with him on that. He urges anyone interested in history to study al-Andalus, which he says encapsulates the whole history of Islam: rapid rise, heroism, betrayal and bitter politics, its own caliphate under Abd al-Rahman III, decay and an unfortunate demise, with the lesson that what rises also falls.

## Sources and names cited

- al-Andalus
- Maliki school
- Abd al-Rahman III

## Transcript (machine tier, 12:53–18:32)

[12:16] we will see things like why for example disagrees with KH on certain points or and how that all plays out there was a particular point during my studies where I'd really I I got immersed into all of that and it it was amazing I would say but the only problem with things like grammar and n and um is perhaps finding that that type of medium to keep it alive whereas with F I think more people can relate to it therefore you can keep it alive and you'll probably struggle to do so with other

[12:53] very specific Sciences like Grandma what's the hype about Islamic Spain alandus is an amazing part of our history um one I'm particularly attached to a reason being that naturally it's very close to where we are as in in Britain today it's you know we're only you know about a thousand what is

[13:30] it um miles really off from what what would have been almost the hot and the central bed of Islamic Spain now besides the proximity angle that is close to us there was the thing that it was the land of Islam really the Bastion of Islam within Europe within you know on European soil and one which span centuries CES you know we're talking almost eight centuries of Muslim not just presence but prominence almost uh during many parts of that on European uh

[14:10] soil within Europe as natives not as immigrants and a civilization that flourished and almost one could say led the way for the rest of Europe to follow so there's that angle there's there's um the side of it being being Maliki in following the school of Madina I do believe that having the Maliki maab as almost its you know as one of its kind of driving forces in shaping the society was instrumental in its survival I I do feel I mean that's a perhaps people will

[14:49] argue with me on that but I feel that the Malik due to principles like due to its elasticity um of understanding due to its push on Mas we find that the Andi they had perhaps I mean in you know maybe they you know they were equipped and I believe sufficiently and adequately equipped to tackle the situations that they faced but not only tackle them but to come out on top and to help shape a civilization that can

[15:28] now shed light for Upon Our times and guide us in this day and age and a time of confusion so there is that angle that yes obviously I have that Maliki connection and the proximity but I also feel that the history is just incredible it's something I can't really sum into just words just you know in a few sentences I would say that please for anybody out there that has a slight interest in history you must study uh the history of

[16:03] alandus it is it really encapsulates almost the entire history from a personality perspective of of Islam almost you will see amazing uh phenomenon amazing phenomena you will see things like the Advent of Islam how it incredibly kind of takes ground like with such Pace you will see it kind of rising you will see the political uh angle you will see things like amazing

[16:39] heroism like you know heroic type of um just roles taken by the people of alelo you will at the same time see things like betrayal you will see incidents of um whether it's hate and bitter politics but at the same time equally met with amazing courage you will see it was a land which declared its own caliphate I mean where where do you find that where it becomes the most powerful kingdom known on Earth at the time with the rise of abdurahman III who declares himself

[17:18] the Khalifa of the Muslim World taking alelos to a new paradigm altogether so you see all of this yet at the same time then you see it going through you know Decay and then rise and if anything it's like a roller coaster ride of Islamic civilization through history with an unfortunate demise almost but it it does leave us still with Incredible lessons teaching us that what Rises also

[17:54] falls but in the aftermath we still find um still beautiful courage displayed by the Muslims that were there and an everlasting message that they left for Muslims that would come after them in Europe so I I I mean that's some of what the hype is about I believe that it has un and changed it in unprecedented ways really and I believe the social media is is

[18:31] instrumental to teaching and to to dawa in general I know it's helped me um ever so much and I know it's helped many people really just reach out to other people that would have been almost impossible to to connect with uh if it were not for social media difference in Islam is is definitely a mercy and anybody I cannot understand anybody that would wish to contradict that message it is absolutely

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment 7UXKLQH8-ig/s/4. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/7uxklqh8-ig/s/4/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.