Listen brothers, listen sisters, listen carefully to a story of sorrow and pain,
This is the story of the fall of Andalus, known as Muslim Spain.
Long, long ago a man called Tariq RH, with the order of Musa Bin Nusayr RH,
Conquered the beautiful land and all of its terrain.
Allah SWT gave them glory because of their pure hearts and what they did contain,
They travelled from North Africa up to the Mediterranean.
Fiercely they fought, unafraid, strong soldiers, waging warriors, like lions – the whole country did they gain,
The glad tidings had already been received from the Messenger of Allah SAW and his companions RA.
The young boy, Tariq RH was made to be the captain,
A fleet of ships arrived with men who didn’t look back as they planned to remain.
Powerful and courageous, bold and brave,
The enemies were confused – are these people from Earth or descended from Heaven?
Tariq RH was spiritual, a holy boy, who sincerely worshipped Allah and from all evil did he abstain,
Recognised by a mole on his face, he stood like a commander, devout and honest, free from name and fame.
In the books of history, he is recorded and illuminated will be his name,
He understood the purpose of life and that life is not a game.
At this time Islam was flourishing like the speed of a train,
City after city, town after town, one after the other like a long chain.
Let us not forget, this was the country that contained a Masjid – largest in the world, ‘Masjid Qurtuba’, larger than Haramayn (at that time),
They had palaces and castles, trees and gardens, overlooked by mountains.
Fruit was plentiful, vegetation was abundant, fields green and plain,
Allah’s SWT mercy descended generously by blessing them with rain.
But the tides became heavy and waves were uncertain,
When people forgot Allah SWT, Lord of the heavens, Rabbul Mashriqayn Wa Rabbul Maghribayn.
The rulers became unjust and acted like villains,
Many spent the night drinking wine and champagne.
Women were used to dance, used for lust and only to entertain,
The Masajid were empty and the pulpits (mimbar) began to cry and complain.
Evil was widespread, corruption was rife, the difference between right and wrong they could not ascertain,
All of a sudden, Allah’s SWT help disappeared as though it was uplifted by a crane.
The rulers were busy marrying maidens; hair of blonde; eyes of blue; that looked like Hoor Ayn,
For centuries the land was ruled by the pious, but now they also did not remain.
Their scholars were knowledgeable and they had rulers which were of piety, with Iman as high as a plane,
But they didn’t educate their sons & their daughters to relay the Deen, nor were they trained.
The minarets cry now for someone to call Allah’s SWT glorious name,
The rows for Salah are seen bare and very plain.
No sign of an Imam or even a chaplain,
Muslims were too busy fighting each other, their own brother had they slain.
They thought blood was cheap like a bargain,
Eventually the Muslims were expelled, or given a choice to be Christian.
Many were tortured, their actions were barbaric and inhumane,
Dear friends, think carefully upon the lessons from Muslim Spain.
Ponder with your intellect and think deeply with your brain,
Let the message sink in, let it ingrain.
For what lasted 800 years, we could not maintain,
Will the Ummah rise to the challenge ever again?
Ismail Ibn Nazir Satia (One who is in dire need of Allah’s forgiveness, mercy and pleasure).
[Written 1st Shaban 1436, after returning from the asSuffa Andalus tour]