Muslim reaction Forced conversions of Muslims in Spain

1 muslim reaction

1.1 crypto-islam

1.1.1 oran fatwa


1.2 emigration
1.3 armed resistance
1.4 sincere conversions

muslim reaction
crypto-islam

a passage works of young man of arévalo, crypto-muslim writer in sixteenth century.

for not emigrate, conversion option survive. however, forcible converts , descendants (known moriscos ) continued practice islam in secret. according harvey, abundant, overwhelming evidence indicated forcible converts secret muslims. historical evidence such muslims writings , inquisition records corroborated former s retained religious beliefs. generations of moriscos born , died within religious climate. however, newly converted pressured conform outwardly christianity, such attending mass or consuming food , drink forbidden in islam. situation led non-traditional form of islam in 1 s internal intention (niyya), rather external observation of rituals , laws, defining characteristic of 1 s faith. hybrid or undefined religious practice featured in many morisco texts: example, works of morisco writer young man of arévalo 1530s described crypto-muslims using christian worship replacement regular islamic rituals. wrote practice of secret congregational ritual prayer (salat jama ah), collecting alms in order perform pilgrimage mecca (although unclear whether journey achieved), , determination , hope among secret muslims reinstitute full practice of islam possible.

oran fatwa

the oran fatwa fatwa (an islamic legal opinion) issued in 1504 address crisis of 1501–1502 forced conversions in castile. issued north african maliki scholar ahmad ibn abi jum ah , set out detailed relaxations of sharia (islamic law) requirements, allowing muslims conform outwardly christianity , perform acts ordinarily forbidden when necessary survive. fatwa included less stringent instructions performance of ritual prayers, ritual charity, , ritual ablution; told muslims how act when obliged violate islamic law, such worshiping christians, performing blasphemy, or consuming pork , wine. fatwa enjoyed wide currency among converted muslims , descendants, , 1 of surviving aljamiado translations dated 1564, 60 years after original fatwa issued. harvey called key theological document study of spanish islam following forced conversions expulsion of moriscos, description islamic studies scholar devin stewart repeated.

emigration

muslims wished emigrate following edict in aragon required documentation in siete aguas in south-east , travel through overland route coruña in north-west castile. because prescribed method difficult complete within imposed deadline, in practice muslims of aragon had accept forcible conversion.

the predominant position of islamic scholars had been muslim not stay in country rulers made proper religious observance impossible: therefore, muslim s obligation leave when able to. before systematic forced conversion, religious leaders had argued muslims in christian territory subject direct , indirect pressure, , preached emigration way protect religion eroding. ahmad al-wansharis, contemporary north african scholar , leading authority on spanish muslims, wrote in 1491 emigrating christian muslim lands compulsory in circumstances. further, urged severe punishment muslims remained , predicted temporarily dwell in hell in afterlife.

however, policy of christian authorities block such emigration. consequently, option practically doable wealthiest among living near southern coast, , great difficulty. example, in sierra bermeja, granada in 1501, option of exile offered alternative conversion paid fee of ten gold doblas, citizens not afford. in same year, villagers of turre , teresa near sierra cabrera in almeria fought christian militias north african rescuers @ mojácar while leaving region. people of turre defeated , planned escape turned massacre; people of teresa got away properties, except fit small boats, left behind , confiscated.

while edict of conversion in castile nominally allowed emigration, explicitly forbade available destinations muslim population of castile, , consequently virtually muslims had accept conversion. in aragon, muslims wished leave required go castile, take inland route across breadth of castile through madrid , valladolid, , embark sea on northwest coast, on tight deadline. religious studies scholar brian a. catlos said emigration not viable option ; historian of spain l. p. harvey called prescribed route insane , difficult achieve option of exile in practice nonexistent , , sephardic historian maurice kriegel agreed, saying in practical terms impossible them leave peninsula . nevertheless, small number of muslims escaped france, , there north africa.

armed resistance

the conversion campaign of cardinal cisneros in granada triggered rebellion of alpujarras (1499–1501). revolt ended in royalist victories, , defeated rebels required convert.

after edict of conversion in aragon, muslims took arms, in areas defensible mountainous terrain. first armed revolt took place @ benaguasil muslims town , surrounding areas. initial royalist assault repelled, town capitulated in march 1526 after five-week siege, resulting in rebels baptism. more serious rebellion developed in sierra de espadan. rebel leader called himself selim almanzo , invoking almanzor, muslim leader during peak of power spanish muslims. muslims held out months , pushed several assaults until royalist army, enlarged 7,000 men german contingent of 3,000 soldiers, made successful assault on september 19, 1526. assault ended in massacring of 5,000 muslims, including old men , women. survivors of massacre escaped muela de cortes; of them later surrendered , baptized, while others escaped north africa.

sincere conversions

some converts sincerely devout in christian faith. cisneros said converts chose die martyrs when demanded recant muslim rebels in granada. convert named pedro de mercado village of ronda refused join rebellion in granada; in response, rebels burned house , kidnapped members of family, including wife , daughter. crown later paid him compensation losses.

in 1502, whole muslim community of teruel (part of aragon bordered castile) converted en masse christianity, though 1502 edict of conversion castilian muslims did not apply them. harvey suggested pressured castilians across border, historian trevor dadson argued conversion unforced, caused instead centuries of contact christian neighbors , desire equal status christians.