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Washington Irving and Islam
Syed Ashraf Ali recalls the forgotten story of the great writer who first introduced Islam to the American public
In May 1829, Irving reached Granada, the last seat of Muslim power in Spain and the most romantic city in the country. The luxurious "Naga" and snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains in the freshness of spring enthralled the young genius. It was here that his imagination was given full reign and sway. Three of his world-renowned works were to see the light of day -- priceless and inimitable gifts not only to Spain, but also to Islam and to the world.At the invitation of the governor, Irving was permitted to live within the palace of Alhambra, reduced almost to ruins through centuries of neglect, malice, and hatred. But even this dilapidated ruin fascinated the great historian to such an extent that he admitted: "Never in my life have I had so delicious an abode and never can I expect to meet such another."
The Tales of Alhambra, at once a biography, a history, a treatise on archaeology and a romance, portrays in true perspective the Muslim civilization of Spain. In Irving own words: "As I sat watching the effect of the declining daylight upon this Moorish pile, I was led into a consideration of the light, elegant and voluptuous character prevalent throughout its internal architecture, and to contrast it with the grand but gloomy solemnity of the Gothic edifices reared by the Spanish conquerors. The very architecture thus bespeaks the opposite and irreconcilable natures of the two warlike people who so long battled here for the mastery of the peninsula.
"By degrees I fell into a course of musing upon the singular fortunes of the Arabian or Morisco-Spaniards, whole existence is a tale that is told, and certainly forms one of the most anomalous yet splendid episodes in history."
To Irving, the Alhambra, more than anything else, symbolized the Muslim imprint upon Spain. His research on Columbus had taken him to Seville. The Alhambra, teeming with a thousand dreams and memories, led him to two other classic creations entitled Legends of the Conquest of Spain and The Conquest of Granada, the very first Western books to portray in true perspective the Muslim civilizations of the Iberian peninsula.
The Tales of Alhambra, through which the timeless monument once again became a living abode, rendered a yeoman's services. This unique work attracted the attention of the Western world and evoked much-needed sympathy from them, which led to the restoration and renovation of the hitherto forgotten Alhambra, and it soon spread to other important relics such as Alcazars of Seville and Toledo and the Great Mosque of Cordova.
Syed Ashraf Ali is former Director General, Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh.
