CAIRO, May 18, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía inaugurate on Thursday, May 18, an exhibition celebrating Muslim thinker Ibn Khaldon.

The "Ibn Khaldun. The Mediterranean in the 14th century: the Rise and Fall of Empires" exhibition is held to celebrate the 6th centennial of his death, according to its website.

Organized by the Presidency and Culture Departments of the Regional Government of Andalusia through the Legado Andalusi Foundation, the exhibition will run until September 30.

Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406 CE/732-808 AH) was one of the greatest Muslim intellectuals.

He came from a Muslim family in Al-Andalus (now Spain) who had settled in the province of Seville.

Ibn Khaldun’s most important work is his Universal History, titled Kitab al-‘ibar (the Book of Experiences).

It is made up of three main parts; the first with admirable reflections on human civilization; the second about the history of peoples and dynasties and the third culminates in a broad, unique autobiography where Ibn Khaldun offers an assessment of himself and of his conscience of his own worth.

Mutual Respect

The exhibition and the parallel cultural activities aim to promote mutual respect, peace and solidarity between Spain, the Muslim world and Europe.

They also seek to strengthen historic, cultural relationships between Spain and its neighboring countries on the Mediterranean basin.

The gala aims as well at promoting understanding and encourage intercultural dialogue between peoples.

Some 100 pieces from Spain and overseas illustrating the journey to the 14th century will be showcased.

Exhibition visitors will discover the valuable contribution of Al-Andalus heritage to universal civilization.

They will get a chance to find out more about the political, commercial and philosophical evolution of Al-Andalus culture.

Al-Andalus refers to both the Emirate (ca 750-929) and Caliphate of Córdoba (929-1031).

In 1236, the Spanish Reconquista led to the subjugation of the last Islamic stronghold of Granada under Mohammed ibn Alhamar to the Christian forces of Ferdinand III of Castile.

From there on Granada became a vassal state to the Christian kingdom for the next 250 years until January 2, 1492, when the last Muslim leader Boabdil of Granada surrendered complete control of the remnants of the last Moorish stronghold Granada, to Ferdinand and Isabella, Los Reyes Católicos ("The Catholic Monarchs").

The Moriscos, the name given to Muslims who were living in Spain after the fall of Granada, were subjected to an array of persecution, torture, mass killings, forced conversions to Christianity, the notorious Spanish Inquisition and mass exodus that started in February 1502.

Morsicos’s descendants in Morocco mark every year the fall of Granada.

After an absence of almost 500 years, the Adhan (call to prayer) and the muezzin’s cry of 'Allahu akbar' (God is greatest) rang on July 10, 2003, from the minaret of the Great Mosque of Granada.