Background of the term “Moriscos”:
The Muslims under the rule of Christian leaders in Spain was known as 'Mudejares'. After the fall of Granada in Spain and its capitulation in January 1942, the Muslims under the Christian leadership were called 'moriscos'.
Terms of capitulation:
The Muslims of Spain agreed to surrender their last strong hold in Spain that is Granada , on fifty five terms, following are the basic terms :-
1. The Muslims would be guaranteed security of life and property and would be allowed religious freedom.
2. They would retain their manners, usages, customs, languages and dresses.
3. The cases between the Muslims and Christians would be heard by mixed tribunals.
4 The Muslim would pay only those taxes which they paid to the Muslim Caliphs in the past.
5 All the Muslim captives would be liberated.
6 They would be free to leave Spain with their portable property including gold and arm within a fixed time with a right to return if they so decide within three years.
7 The new Muslims would not be reconverted to their former faith
8 Muslim merchants would be free to move and carry on trade within and outside the country on paying custom dues, as the Christians were paying.
The capitulation was signed between Musa and Ferdinand, but Musa had no faith in these words, he rushed out of the city gate with hopeless sight and a remembrance sigh.
About Moriscos:
The Moriscos spoke the Arabic and roman languages. They wrote roman in Arabic script which became to be known as “al jam ado” meaning as a foreign language.
The Moriscos were known for their hard work and skill. They possessed great skill in the field of agriculture, cultivation and diligence. In manual trade they were supreme and chief producer of soap, rope, sandal, shoe and mattress. They were weavers, tailors, gardeners, and smith.
They sold food of great standard, they pay their taxes willingly and they were moderate in their food and clothing .the Moriscos after their hard labor, passed their leisure hours in recreation. They were fond of tales, songs and dances.
Violation of agreement:
After the capitulation for about few years the atmosphere remains peaceful, but after few years Ferdinand went back to his promise.
1. Muslims were forcibly subjected to convert themselves into Christianity’s missionary work for the above mentioned task was setup in 1948.
2. Some of them even after conversion had no status in Christian society they were hated and despised, treated as dogs and were called as Moorish dogs
3. Cisneros who was the in charge of missionary work went to the extent of burning Arabic and Islamic books. Muslims were subjected to burn those books by their own hands. Many of their scientific works were stolen.
4 the Muslims were subjected to violent taxes, they were banned to go to mosque and even some of the mosques were blown up by gun powder.
5 the Moriscos of Granada were ordered to give up Arabic language within three years.
6 two years after , a law was passed that the Muslims either accept Christianity or pay 50,000 pieces of gold , the moriscos who failed to pay required money and also refused to accept Christianity were forcibly collected in a place and were put to death . Remaining Moriscos accepted Christianity.
7 after this historical incident, the Moriscos were considered theoretically as Christians.
Lost natives:
The Christian rulers succeeded to make a hash of the cultural, moral, ethical, spiritual and religious aspects of Moriscos. They were subjected to violent killings, suppressions, dejection, depressions and however forcibly converted to Christians and were made to lost their valuable faith, trust, belief and principles. Still in Spain very little Muslim population is found to be living as in other parts of the world.
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