Co-existence between Muslims and Christians in Andalusia

Abstract

This paper discusses the Islamic-Christian coexistence in Andalusia. Before Muslims entrance to the country, its people were Catholic Christians ruled by the German Goths who considered Christians perverted, which led to violent conflicts between both parties.These conditions changed completely under the Islamic rule. The Catholic Christians accepted the Islamic rule, which helped them get released from the restrictions, persecution and injustice practiced by the Gothic rulers. Islam protected Christians, and let them practice their rites and rituals freely and safely.The Christians in the Iberian Peninsula benefited from the Islamic rule and were a part of it. Among them were doctors, scientists, merchants, ministers and soldiers. The peaceful coexistence imposed by the Muslims in Andalusia also had a great impact on the transfer of Muslim sciences to Europe, which had the greatest impact on the European Renaissance later. The paper’s bibliography includes Arabic and English references. I have used the historical, analytical and deductive methodology.