Representatives from the Spanish Muslim community have reportedly appealed to Pope Benedict XVI to allow Muslims prostrate themselves in worship in Cordoba Cathedral, which was built as a mosque during Spain’s centuries of Islamic rule, and converted into a church in the 13th century, according to Reuters.

“What we wanted was not to take over that holy place, but to create in it, together with you and other faiths, an ecumenical space unique in the world which would have been of great significance in bringing peace to humanity,” the Spain’s Islamic Board, said in the letter.

But senior Spanish Catholic clergy rejected the Muslims requests.

Spain’s Catholic Bishops Conference argues it’s not prepared to negotiate the building’s shared use with followers of other faiths.

Muslim worshippers are usually stopped by security guards who prevent from praying inside the old Mosque.

“There are reactionary elements within the Catholic Church, and when they hear about the construction of a mosque, or Muslim teachings in state schools, or about veils, they see it as a sign that we are growing and they oppose it,” said the board’s general secretary, Mansur Escudero.

Cordoba’s Cathedral, known as the Cathedral-Mosque, was built when much of Spain was the Moorish territory of Al-Andalus, a major centre of Islamic thought and architecture.

Córdoba, now the only provincial capital in Spain where the city government is controlled by a leftist coalition named Izquierda Unida, whose main component is the Communist Party of Spain, was taken by the Christians from the Muslims as part of the Reconquista in 1236.

It later became a center of activity against in remaining Islamic regions.

No matter what my feelings are about this. This statement by the Bishops is very hypocritical.

Spain’s Catholic Bishops Conference argues it’s not prepared to negotiate the building’s shared use with followers of other faiths.

They may have valid reasons not to share it, but to say it is because they are not ready to share with other faiths is a direct contradiction for their stated stance on wanting to be ecumenical.

Greetings and peace be with you sonz and Woodrow;

It seems very sad that people cannot brake down the barriers that separate them. I would hope and pray that some time in the future this will change.

In the spirit of seeking a greater interfaith friendship

Eric

It's a beautiful place. I hope one day Muslims can pray there again.

It used to be a mosque. The most they can do is share it, if not give it back. No one would wana give away something beautiful.

Al-Andalus.. the only reason Allaah removed it from our hands was because we preferred this world over the hereafter. I really love that land, may Allaah allow us to be strong and just once again. Ameen.

I wonder why the city is called Cordoba, maybe because of the famous imaam and scholar of this ummah, Imam Qurtubi? Allaahu a'lam.


Muslim Spain
http://www.load-islam.com/artical_de...amic%20history

i know this was built by muslims, but would it be permissable under islam to prostate in prayer in a cathedral full of statues, etc.?

Originally Posted by snakelegs

i know this was built by muslims, but would it be permissable under islam to prostate in prayer in a cathedral full of statues, etc.?

No, But I believe concessions could be made so a prayer area could be designated for Muslims. I do not know the lay out of the Masjid/Cathedral but I would suspect it has 2 prayer areas.

well, it doesn't sound like the catholics are going to be reasonable - actually, the whole thing is ironic.
i've seen pictures of this masjid - it is very beautiful.

I just found a link with many pictures. Quite interesting. I was surprised to see it has very few statues.


http://www.infocordoba.com/spain/and...ue_2/index.htm

The fall of spain was a sad day in our history, but like the brother said earlier we couldnt keep it because we didnt deserve to keep it. .

Al-Andalus.. the only reason Allaah removed it from our hands was because we preferred this world over the hereafter. I really love that land, may Allaah allow us to be strong and just once again. Ameen.

Inshallah i am hoping to visit spain some time next year to visit some of these places and seeing first hand what places of beauty a real islamic civilisation can produce. Some of the achievements of the islamic civilisation are truly amazing.

Originally Posted by Tayyaba

It used to be a mosque. The most they can do is share it, if not give it back. No one would wana give away something beautiful.

Originally Posted by snakelegs

well, it doesn't sound like the catholics are going to be reasonable - actually, the whole thing is ironic.
i've seen pictures of this masjid - it is very beautiful.

Just to put things into some kind of context, i have pasted a small section from wikipedia regarding hagia sofia



Hagia Sophia, (the Church of) Holy Wisdom, now known as the Ayasofya Museum, is a former Eastern Orthodox church converted to a mosque in 1453 by the Turks, and converted into a museum in 1935. It is located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is traditionally considered one of the great buildings in history. Its conquest by the Ottomans at the fall of Constantinople is considered one of the great tragedies of Christianity by the Greek Orthodox faithful.

We all mourn that which we have lost, but sooner or later we have to stop the mourning and move on. Where are we building the masjids and places of beauty that future generations will look at in amazement??

thats true bro. what u said at the end

Salaam

It is not the building that matter but the hearts that enter it.

Do we seek to pray in buiding with granduer while our hearts are in an abyss?

Is it that important to pray in such places?

Remember that even the Kaabah is man made and was destroyed by the hands of mena nd nature...So it is not important where we pray but our state of being.

Originally Posted by netprince

The fall of spain was a sad day in our history, but like the brother said earlier we couldnt keep it because we didnt deserve to keep it. .

How did we not deserve to keep it?

the cool thing is it still has Arabic inscriptions in around the mosque