Spain’s defiance of U.S-Israel War against Iran in light of its Islamic past

Spain’s Refusal of US-Israel War on Iran and the Historical Legacy of Islam

By Ramadhan Kabagambe, Missionary

As the current confrontation between the United States-Israel and Iran continues to raise global concern, Spain has taken a notable and uncommon position within Europe by refusing to support the war.

It was the first European country to publicly distance itself from such action and this set it apart from its Western allies. This position not only points to a shift in political calculations in Europe but also invites a conversation on historical encounters of Spain with the Islamic world and its role in contemporary global affairs.

The story of Islam in Spain is a significant chapter of medieval history. It began in 711 CE, when Muslim forces led by Tariq ibn Ziyad defeated the Visigothic king Roderic at the Battle of Guadalete. This paved way for Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula and marked the beginning of Al-Andalus, a Muslim ruled civilization that would last for nearly eight centuries.

It is recorded in the annals of Islam that Ṭāriq Ibn Ziyād, after burning all the boats and eventually forbidding his army from retreating, said the following words of encouragement to his comparatively small army;

أيها الناس، أين المفر؟ البحر من ورائكم، والعدو أمامكم، وليس لكم والله إلا الصدق والصبر

Thats is; “O people, where is escape? The sea is behind you and the enemy is before you. By God, you have no refuge except in truth and patience”

These oratory words gingered the confidence of his army and ultimately led to the conquest of Al-Andalus.

Under the Umayyads, particularly during the Caliphate of Córdoba in the10th century, Al-Andalus became one of the most advanced societies in Europe. Science, philosophy, architecture, and interfaith coexistence flourished. Muslim, Christian, and Jewish communities often lived in relative harmony and a shared intellectual culture.

However, this civilization gradually declined. The fragmentation into smaller taifa kingdoms weakened Muslim political unity, making them vulnerable to the advancing Christian kingdoms in the north. This long process, known as the Reconquista, culminated in 1492 with the fall of Granada which was the last Muslim stronghold.

Initially, Muslims were promised religious freedom under Christian rule, but this tolerance quickly vanished into thin air. Instead what followed was Forced conversions, cultural suppression, and ultimately the expulsion of the Muslims who had converted to Christianity commonly known as Moriscos, between 1609 and 1614. This finally erased Islam as a visible religion in Spain.

Thus, Islam did not vanish due to a single event, but through a systematic process of political conquest, religious coercion, and cultural erasure.

Re-emergence of Islam in Modern Spain

Today, Islam has re-established itself in Spain, though now as a minority religion practiced by around 2.5 million people and of course many of these are immigrants.

Modern Muslim communities face challenges such as discrimination and Islamophobia, yet they are also increasingly integrated into Spanish society. There is even a small but notable trend of native Spaniards converting to Islam, especially in historically symbolic cities like Córdoba and Granada which were one strong hold of Islam.

This revival suggests that Islam is not alien to the Spanish people but rather, a returning tradition with deep historical roots.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Spain

Among the various Islamic movements in Spain, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community holds a unique place. Its modern presence dates back to the early 20th century, with missionary activity resuming in 1946 after interruptions caused by the Spanish Civil War. It reached Spain neither through desire for conquest nor through love for migration like earlier Islamic history records but through pure missionary efforts.

The first Missionary, Maulana Malik Muhammad Sharid Gujrati Sahib, was sent by the Second Caliph to Madrid, arriving on 10^th, March, 1936. The first Spanish convert was Count Antonio Logothete Sahib, who adopted Ghulam Ahmad as his Muslim name. His wife also accepted Islam Ahmadiyyat and was named Amina. Progressively, a small Community of five Ahmadis was established.

Unfortunately, shortly after a short-lived success, the Spanish Civil War broke out, forcing him to leave immediately and causing the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat to become inactive.

After World War II, on 10^th, June 1946, two Missionaries, Hadhrat Maulvi Karam Ilahi Zafar Sahib and Maulvi Ishaq Saqi Sahib were sent to Madrid, where they worked tooth and nail on its re-establishment. The result of their efforts was that Mr. Enrique Ku Zhin Sahib embraced the Islam Ahmadiyyat, and adopted Muhammad Ahmad as his Muslim name.

Challenges

Worth noting is that due to financial constraints during the 1947 partition of India-Pak subcontinent, international headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim jamaat could not support the Spanish Jama’at hence compelling the second Khalifah^ra to call Maulawi Ishaq Saqi Sahib back to Pakistan.

However, out of his own request, Hadhrat Maulana Karam Ilahi Zafar Sahib stayed and worked as a self-financed Missionary through selling perfume in Madrid’s El Rastro market to support himself and the Mission’s work.

Under Francisco Franco, non-Catholic missionary work was banned. Maulana Karam Ilahi Zafar Sahib faced severe opposition and arrests and he was forced to operate behind closed doors. He single-handedly and honestly served the Jama’at against all odds for 25 years and later passed away as a martyr, in 1996 in Granada.

Official Registration

Following the liberalization of religious laws, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was formally registered in 1970 as La Misión Ahmadia del Islam. Today, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has local Chapters established in 13 cities and towns in Spain Alhamdulillah.

First Jama’at Mosque

One of its most significant contributions to Spain is the Basharat Mosque in Pedro Abad, in the province of Córdoba, completed on 10^th, September, 1982 the foundations of which were laid two years earlier in 1980.  This is considered the first mosque constructed in Spain since the fall of Granada in 1492.

Expected Influence

The influence of Ahmadiyyat in Spain is likely to be Intellectual and cultural rather than political focused on interfaith dialogue and historical awareness and eventually bridging the gap between Spain’s Islamic past its secular present.

Given Spain’s sensitivity to religious diversity, such a peaceful and non-confrontational approach may resonate with segments of the local population, particularly among academics and those interested in Andalusian heritage.

Indeed from leaders to the ordinary members of Jama’at Ahmadiyya, the message they preach is that of Love for all, Hatred for none and in respect to Spain, Mr. Mubarak Ahmad Zafar Sahib, in his Urdu poem presents a determination of capturing Al-Andalus and the hearts of its inhabitants but through love and compassion. He writes;

ہم محبت کی تنویر بن جائیں گے
نئی اُندلس کی تقدیر بن جائیں گے
اپنا قبضہ دلوں پر جمائیں گے ہم
اہلِ اُندلس کو اپنا بنائیں گے ہم

We will become a light of love

We will shape the destiny of a new Andalus

We will win control over hearts

We will make the people of Andalus our own

The rest of the couplets of the poem emphasize the same theme of peaceful preaching, spreading Islam through love, unity, and moral reformation while reviving the spiritual aspect of Al-Andalus not through political conquest but through loyality to Ahmadiyya Khilafat.

Historical and Intellectual Exchange between Iran and Spain (Al-Andalus)

The connection between Spain and Iran is not new. During the Islamic period, Persian scholars, administrators, and cultural influences played a major role in shaping Andalusian civilization.

This historical linkage is important when examining current diplomatic moves between Spain and Iran.

Spain and Contemporary Geopolitics

In the current tensions between the United States-Israel and Iran on the other, Spain has taken a different position by condemning military actions and instead calling for dialogue and peaceful solutions.

Spain has also decided to reopen its embassy in Tehran after it was closed for some time due to the conflict. The government says this step is meant to support peace efforts and strengthen diplomatic talks.

Officials say Spain wants to help normalize relations, keep open communication with Iran, and present itself as a country that supports peace instead of war.

However, this decision has not been welcomed by everyone. Israel has criticized Spain’s move, saying that engaging with Iran is a concern. Even so, Spain’s position reflects a wider trend in Europe, where many countries now prefer dialogue and negotiation rather than confrontation.

Islam in Spain is not just history; it is a story that still speaks today. Its rise in Al-Andalus showed how people of different cultures and religions can live and grow together. But its fall also showed the dangers of intolerance and the struggle for power.

Today, as Spain manages its diverse society and makes careful decisions in global politics, we can still see signs of that past. The return and growth of Islam, including movements like Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, and Spain’s careful engagement with Iran show that the country is still trying to find its place between different civilizations, just like it did many years ago.