Before the Conquest
Now the majority of the Iberian Peninsula were Unitarians who believed that Jesus (peace be upon him) was just a prophet of God, but due to their belief were exiled by Constantine. He even burned the documents and exiled Arius (leader of the Unitarians) who had gotten a large number of followers in North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. This oppression of Unitarians continued into the 600s, when a near by land owned by the Muslims became to be known as Arabian Peninsula. When Muslim armies began to appear on the borders of the Roman Empire, the Unitarians of North Africa realized they shared much in common with this Islam. Both believed in the Oneness of God, that Jesus was a prophet, and that the official Trinitarian belief of the Church was wrong and something that was newly added in by Paul. They soon realized Islam was the original teachings of Jesus (pbuh), and a large amount of North Africa converted to Islam within the 600s.
But in fact the truth is that the Trinitarians forced some of them to convert and those who were unwilling to accept were expelled out of the Roman Empire by Constantine. There’s a misconception that the Unitarians were forced into accepting Islam, there is no historical evidence for this. Plus Allah say’s in the Quran Chapter 2 verse 256:
But in fact the truth is that the Trinitarians forced some of them to convert and those who were unwilling to accept were expelled out of the Roman Empire by Constantine. There’s a misconception that the Unitarians were forced into accepting Islam, there is no historical evidence for this. Plus Allah say’s in the Quran Chapter 2 verse 256:
“There shall be no force in accepting the religion (of Islam)... ”
Conquest of Spain
The Remarkable thing is that just 100 years after the death of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Islam had spread so far. There are many reasons why it spread so fast but the main one was the belief of the Unitarians and the Muslims. The other reason was the justice system of Islam allowing other religions to stay in their land and not only that but allowing protection to them which is according to Shariah (Islamic law). By then the Muslim Empire known as the Umayyads had control of areas from India up to the Atlantic Ocean which led to the conquest of Spain. |
Roderick had continued the Roman idea of trinity and forced it upon his people; he had also kidnapped and raped Julian’s Daughter. According to Ibn Khaldun a nobleman known as Julian came to Africa to ask help from Musa ibn Nusayr. The Muslims always wanted to do dawah (invite people towards Islam) overseas on the Iberian Peninsula, so when Julian asked them to come this was an opportunity to give dawah. He then sent Tariq ibn Ziyad to overthrow the tyrannical king known as Roderick. He was also considered by his own people as a tyrannical king. So when Islam came into the Iberian Peninsula in 710 AD. An army of 5000 Muslims under the leadership of Tariq ibn Ziyad arrived on the south shores of the Iberian Peninsula (modern day Portugal and Spain) in the year 711 AD. After a few minor battles, he met the massive army of Roderic’s at the Battle of Guadalete on July 19, 711. After the fierce battle the victory went to Tariq ibn Ziyad and the tyrant Roderic was killed. When Spain was conquered by Tariq ibn Ziyad he became the governor of Al-Andalus (Spain), Musa ibn Nusayr was in his 70’s. Musa ibn Nusayr died in Medina at the age of 80. By 720 AD almost the whole peninsula was under Muslim control. Scholars debate what place Tariq died, some say he died in Damascus (Syria), some say Hejaz (area of Medina & Makkah), others say Al-Maghrib (West Africa).
Bibliography
- Masud ul Hasan. History of Islam. Lahore: Ashfaq Mirza.
- Al-khateeb, Firas. "Lost Islamic HISTORY | Bringing BACK Islamic History." Web. 3 July 2015.