The year 1492 was an eventful one. A lot changed across the world in terms of religious domination, power and wealth distribution. While Columbus made his first voyage to discover the New World, the Old World was also undergoing changes. The marriage of Ferdinand Aragon and Isabella Castile led to a reign that united all the Spanish dominions and elevated Spain to the position of a dominant world power.

The year 1478 had introduced the Spanish Inquisition, a powerful and brutal force of homogenisation in the Spanish society. In 1492, the re-conquest of Granada from the Moors was completed, and the crown ordered all Spanish Jews to convert to Christianity or face expulsion from Spain. Four years later, Spanish Muslims were handed a similar order.

In the national narrative of Spanish history, the year 1492 is celebrated for the final defeat and expulsion of the Muslims from Spain, which they had invaded in 711 AD and ruled over for nearly eight centuries. The Spanish historians called it the re-conquest and re-incorporation of the lost part of Spain to the original country. While the Christian victory was celebrated throughout Europe, the loss of Al-Andulas was not forgotten by the Muslim world although the eastern part of that world remained somewhat unaware of what happened to the Muslims in Spain. In the history of the subcontinent, the Muslim chronicles have no mention of it; so over the years, even though the lost splendour of Al-Andalus has been much idealised in the Islamic world, there remains a lack of appreciation of the factors behind its downfall.

When religious homogeneity is imposed by the state, it is the nation that suffers

The myth of Muslim Spain emerged during the modern period when most of the Muslim countries were under colonial rule, and looking for an inspiration to counter colonial powers. The new available historical documents and manuscripts also helped them construct the history of the Muslim rule in Spain. According to this interpretation, Muslim Spain was far ahead socially and culturally than Europe. It was the period when the Jews, Muslims and Christians lived peacefully without religious discrimination and flourished as a community socially and economically.

The Arabs introduced new crops and modern technology. The first paper mill was founded in Granada and supplied paper to Europe. European students would come to Muslim Spain to study in its educational institutions. In the early period they were powerful militarily, defeated the Christian rulers, raided the south of France and occupied Sicily. However, political conflicts and rivalries divided them and they were split into small states which were steadily conquered by the growing Christian powers. Finally, the surrender of Granada ended Muslim rule in Spain.

This interpretation of history has created a sense of sorrow and loss among the Muslims. A famous poem on Masjid-i-Qartaba expresses the feelings and emotions of the Muslims about Al-Andulas. The Al Hamra, the beautiful royal palace of Granada, became a cultural symbol for the Muslims throughout the world. The myth of the glory of Moorish Spain still inspires the Muslims who take pride in having enlightened Europe at a time when it was in darkness.

Ferdinand and Isabella re-united Spain and earned for themselves the title of Catholic Kings. Once Islamic Spain had ceased to exist, attention turned to the internal threat posed by hundreds of thousands of Muslims living in the recently incorporated Granada. While everywhere in the 16th century Europe, it was assumed that religious unity was necessary for political unity, but in Spain there was a sense of urgency in enforcing religious conformity. Since they wanted the whole country to be purely Catholic, the Jews and the Muslims were ordered either to convert to Christianity or to leave the country within three months. As a result, half of the population of the Jews left the country and migrated to Portugal, Holland and the Ottoman Empire. Those who were resourceful left their homeland and settled in different countries but those with less wealth could not afford to take a risk and leave the country for some unknown destination. On the other hand there were some who had property and wealth but preferred conversion in order to retain their social status.

But even conversion did not solve their problems. The Christian authorities who regularly watched and supervised them, especially on Friday, (a holy day for Muslims), suspected them of not having converted in reality and of practicing their old religion secretly. The government established an inquisition with the consent of the Pope. Suspected converts were brought to trial, tortured and forced to confess their crimes and their properties were confiscated. When they were imprisoned, their entire families would suffer.

However, in the implementation of its policy of Chris-tianisation, Spain paid a heavy price by becoming deprived of technology, industry and knowledge that was produced by the Jews and the Arabs. Religious intolerance instilled rigidity and narrow-mindedness in the society. The domination of the church put barriers on free thinking and liberal ideas and living in a society where there was only one faith, people lost contact with other religions and were consequently reduced to religious bigotry.

History shows that a pluralistic society with religious tolerance progresses by enjoying the benefits of shared talent whereas an intolerant society suffers and is deprived of the contribution of marginalised communities.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, August 10th, 2014