Author: Obaidullah Noorzahi
Islam in Europe (Part 6)
Migration in Europe
Migration in Europe takes two forms:
Historical migrations: Since the 15th century, widespread migrations began, particularly to America, during which about 70 million Europeans went to various regions.
Contemporary migration: People from Asia and Africa have migrated to Europe and are primarily active in-service jobs and factories.
Races, Languages, and Religions
The majority of Europeans are white, encompassing various ethnic groups such as:
Latin peoples (southern Europe), Germanic peoples, Slavic peoples, Lapps (a specific ethnic group of northern Europe), and scattered tribes such as Iberians and Celts.
There are approximately 70 languages and dialects spoken on this continent. Europe now has 34 political units, the largest of which is France, with an area of approximately 544,000 square kilometers, and the smallest is Monaco, covering only 1.8 square kilometers.
The majority of Europeans follow Christianity, divided into three branches: Catholicism, Protestantism, and Orthodoxy. The largest religious minority in Europe is Muslims.
The Influence of Islam in Europe
In 91 AH, corresponding to 711 AD, a significant victory was achieved by the armies of Islam. On this date, Tariq ibn Ziyad, along with the forces under his command, succeeded in dominating southwestern Europe through a great and glorious conquest. In 710 AD, Tariq invaded the northern side of the strait that would later be named “Gibraltar” after him.
He was a Berber slave who converted to Islam and worked under the command of Musa ibn Nasir, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic forces on the African (Maghreb) front. Tariq, through his unparalleled faith and courage, was able to cross to the other side of the strait with unique strategies. After reaching his destination, he ordered all the ships to be burned. In response to the protests of some of his companions, he delivered a passionate speech, saying: “O people, now the turbulent sea is behind you and the enemy army is in front of you. They are equipped with more weapons and warehouses full of provisions; but you can only rely on your faith and the swords you have. So fight and be victorious!”
These words raised the morale of the soldiers, and they conquered Spain (Andalus) with unparalleled bravery. The people of this land, who were weary of the oppression of Roderick, the Visigoth king, welcomed the Muslims warmly. In 711, in a battle near Cádiz, 7,000 Muslims defeated 25,000 European warriors. Within two years, the Iberian Peninsula (except for a small area in the northwest) was entirely under Muslim control, and this region, known as “Andalus,” became one of the shining centers of Islamic civilization.
The Advance of Islam in Europe
After the conquest of Spain, the Muslim army entered France in 714 AD and advanced to the cities of Avignon and Lyon. Despite notable successes, the considerable distance of these regions from the center of the Islamic state and the lack of resources caused the conquests to stop. In 723 AD, the Muslims were defeated by Charles Martel’s forces in the famous Battle of Poitiers, but they still controlled large parts of Europe.
The conquest of the islands of Cyprus, Sicily, Rhodes, Crete, Sardinia, and the Balearic Islands were also among the achievements of the Muslims in the following centuries. In 476 AD, the armies commanded by Yusuf ibn Tashfin defeated the forces of King Alfonso of Spain at the Battle of Zalaqah.
Despite the fall of Muslim rule in Andalusia in 781, the cultural and civilizational effects of Islam continued in Europe. Islamic science, art, and philosophy profoundly influenced the flourishing of the Renaissance. In subsequent centuries, the Ottomans, as the heirs of Islamic civilization, continued their conquests in eastern and southeastern Europe. Taking advantage of the weakness of the Byzantine state, the Ottoman government seized areas such as Gallipoli, Edirne, Serbia, and Bosnia.
With the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the colonization of Islamic countries, the West tried to limit the influence of Islam. However, the allure of Islam led to its continued growth in Europe and other parts of the world. Today, Islam plays a prominent role as the second-largest religion in Europe, with more than 22 million Muslims.
In the Balkans, the majority of people in countries such as Albania, Bosnia, and Kosovo are Muslim. In other European countries, the inclination toward Islam is also spreading rapidly among the local population and immigrants. Despite negative propaganda and the efforts of churches to Christianize Muslims, Islam has conquered the hearts of many with its peaceful methods.
These facts show that despite the long-standing hostility of the West, the light of Islam continues to shine on the European continent and is welcomed by those who seek truth.
Southern Europe and the Influence of Islam
Southern Europe, the region closest to the Islamic countries of Africa and Asia, was one of the first to be conquered by the armies of Islam in the early centuries of the Hijri calendar. Islamic culture and civilization flourished and expanded in this region, and its traces can still be seen in the southern and southwestern parts of Europe.
One of the most prominent lands in this region is the Iberian Peninsula, which was under Muslim rule for eight centuries. The Muslims transformed this land into a center of thought and culture called Andalusia, at a time when Europe was plunged into darkness and ignorance during the Middle Ages. Andalusia, with its scientific and cultural brilliance, imparted wisdom and enlightenment to Europeans.
Dr. Pedro Martinez Montabeth, a Spanish researcher and orientalist, states in this regard: “If it were not for the eight centuries of Islamic rule over Spain, this country would never have entered the annals of civilization. This period, while neighboring Europe was in the dark of ignorance and backwardness, brought the light of wisdom and culture to it.”
In the first century AH, Muslims conquered the island of Cyprus with their powerful navy and imposed a tax on its Christian inhabitants according to Islamic law. In the year 212 AH, Muslims invaded the island of Crete, and after defeating the resistance of the inhabitants, they captured it. The Islamic armies fortified their headquarters by creating a moat and established an Islamic state on the island. The Muslims’ presence in Crete lasted for about a century and a half. Although Roman forces attempted several times to retake the island, they were unsuccessful; but in 350 AH, the Greeks managed to remove Crete from Muslim control.
The island of Sicily was conquered by Asad ibn Furat. He, having acquired skills in naval battles, took command of an army of Muslim warriors in the early third century AH. This army was stationed on the southern coast of the island, called “Pazru,” and then captured the city of Palermo. Although the Romans besieged the Muslim army, with the arrival of fresh forces from the Obla government in North Africa and the joining of Andalusian warriors, the Muslims managed to conquer large areas of the island.
In an area of the island that became known as “Sicily,” an Islamic government was established that lasted for two centuries. Under this government, Sicily advanced and developed, resulting in a magnificent civilization. However, as the weakness of the Muslim organization set in, in 464 AH, the Norman army led by Roger succeeded in defeating the Muslims and reclaiming the island.
Continues…
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