After almost 500 of Muslims’ violent and bloody exile from Spain , a brave son of Islam paved the way for the construction of a Masjid in the same memorable land. But his ways were not violent. Nor did he spill any blood. No crusade. No terrorism… but through his unique ways of cultural revolution. In the inaugural address, he said that the mosque could serve as an example to all, so that when the muezzin made the call to prayer his chant would “resound like a call to brotherhood.” … and happened to the the Cultural Architect of Arabia. [Jaihoon]
Mosque ‘will serve to strengthen brotherhood’
Granada |WAM | 12-07-2003, Gulf News.com
His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated here yesterday the grand mosque complex in a memorable ceremony attended by a number of dignitaries, including the chief of Andalusia province, heads of diplomatic missions of Arab and Islamic countries in Spain, directors of cultural centers, university professors, imams and Muslim scholars.
In an inaugural address, Dr Sheikh Sultan said that the mosque could serve as an example to all, so that when the muezzin made the call to prayer his chant would “resound like a call to brotherhood.”
In a speech read in Spanish by his son Sheikh Khaled bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Dr Sheikh Sultan noted the lasting visible traces of Arab culture in Granada, the seat of the Muslim kingdom in Andalusia for eight centuries.
He praised the richness of its culture, customs, monuments and language. “in the character and blood of the Andalusians there is a part of ourselves,” he said
While in England, Iqbal accepted the hospitality of Spain in 1932. He also went to Cordoba and had the distinction of being the first Muslim to offer prayers at its historical mosque after the exile of Moors.
Memories of the past glory of Arabs and their 800-year rule over Spain were revived in his mind and his emotions were aroused by what he saw.