i Am A mUsLiM

How quickly time flows
Racing along class rows
Teachers struggle hard
Parents ever on guard

Pupil cacophonies echo
Mother and father in constant woe
The aunties try and try
As the hours fly by

Unrecognised are we!
The voices echo in unity
Tomorrow Insha Allah you shall know
As buds bloom and grow

In reality words of gratitude flow
To aunties above and below
For applaud can not replace
All your efforts and grace

Was it just yesterday?
Distant memories play
On a tapestry fading
Silence overwhelming

To horizons afar and new
Caravans pass through
Sand dunes and deserts arid
Treasures hidden and florid

A world of constant change
Driving to yonder range
Till our hearts beat
Their final feat

Words of gratitude flow
To all above and below
For applaud cannot replace
All your efforts and grace

Bismillah, alhamdulillah.

I remember studying Greek and Roman history at school and then jumping to the Renaissance of Europe. In the late 70`s and early 80`s Islamic awareness was relatively low and the jump in dates was never questioned. I remember studying the inquisitions that were held under the victorious Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabelle. The heretics felt the full brunt of their wrath. It sounded horrible but little did I know at the time that many of these heretics were Muslims who had been persecuted and forced to change their religion from Islam to Christianity on the pain of death. As the years would pass I would begin to discover that this was one of the best kept secrets in the Western world.

The history of Andalus or Islamic Spain represents a golden and essential heritage of the Western world. An Islamic heritage. One that the Western world has been careful to not acknowledge. But whether or not they acknowledge it, it exists. Despite their efforts relics still remain reminding Europe of it`s most unfortunate moment - when they vanquished the last Muslims from Spain.

The famous subcontinental poet Muhammad Iqbal wrote:

Insha Allah, God willing, over the next few articles I will trace my route to Spain and give a mix of practical tips and information for anyone else contemplating driving to Spain. The picture is a 3d model of the Al-Hamra fort (Alhambra as known locally) as it is built on the top of the mountains that surround city of Granada.