Grenada Quotes

See {623774} for a poem he wrote in Arabic about the battle itself. He had written books in Arabic about Hebrew grammar and language and was the first person to use the Arabic poetic style with its meter and rhyming and used it for writing Hebrew poetry. This poem was so written.

He was referring to Joseph ibn Naghrela, the son of Samuel ibn Naghrela ({623786} & {623774}) The father had been the vizier the King and the son was appointed Secretary to the Muslim King. He was one of the Muslims who were jealous that Jews should have influential positions in a Muslim society.

This quotation is unusual for several reasons. First, it is one of the few surviving descriptions of the Battle of Al Fuente an important battle keeping Muslim Grenada independent. Second, it was an elegant poem written by the winning commander who was a polymath with poetry and military prowess just two of his skills. Third, the commander was a Jew commanding a Muslim Army in Moorish Spain.

At the time, most Muslims and Jews of Andalusia lived together very amicably. Ibn Hazm was a brilliant scholar of philosophy, law, theology, and science and the leading Islamic intellectual of Andalusia. However, he had one major rival, a Jew named Samuel ibn Naghrela who was just as brilliant a scholar, but also one of the best military leaders, and physicians of the kingdom. (See {623786} & {623774}) Ibn Hazm was very jealous and tried to turn the Muslim Berber King Habbus al-Muzaffar against ibn Naghrela and other Jews. The king however made Samuel ibn Naghrela his hajib (prime minister / vizier) of Grenada in 1037. He was also made military commander and excelled at both areas while continuing his scholarly activity. Samuel ibn Naghrela held his political and military positions for 17 years and both these intellectuals wrote brilliant books in several field which added to the reputation of this era as the Golden Age of Islamic Spain.

Referring to the U.S. invasion of Grenada:. Goldwater was not quite accurate. In actuality the Pentagon awarded 28,675 medals.

From a religious point of view a Christian or Jew was cursed, but ibn Naghrela had the respect of most (See {623787} ) and was the most influential citizen of a Golden Era of Muslim Spain. In 1056 he was assassinated by jealous Muslims.

When the Muslims dominated most of Spain, under Sharia (Koranic Law), Christians and Jews had to pay a special tax. Also, for many years the Christian areas had to provide 100 virgins a year for the Moorish harems. When the Christians occupied most of Spain in the “reconquest,” they required the few Muslim enclaves left to pay an annual tribute to avoid major war. In 1476 Granada ceased paying the tribute. War followed and in 1492 the Christians reconquered Grenada.