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History of Islam Vol 3 of 3 by Akbar Shah Najeebabadi

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176<br />

The <strong>History</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Islam</strong><br />

The Christian king <strong>of</strong> Aragon massacred Muslim forces pretending<br />

that they were going to invade Valencia. Rodmir, the Christian king<br />

wrested Saragossa from the Muslims and did not hesitate in the least<br />

from pulling down mosques. It is worth mentioning that the Muslim<br />

powers had so many times defeated the Christians and entered into<br />

their cities victoriously but never showed any brutality nor killed<br />

innocent Christian women and children.<br />

After conquering Toledo Alfonso made an attempt<br />

to step into the<br />

territory <strong>of</strong> Barcelona. Mu'tamid bin Mu'tazid Abbadi, the king <strong>of</strong><br />

Barcelona w^s then engaged in fighting with the king <strong>of</strong> Almeria so he<br />

sent tribute to Alfonso to avert trouble. Alfonso sent word to<br />

Mu'tamid that he wanted to keep his pregnant wife in the Cordova<br />

Mosque until she delivered and so he should make arrangements for<br />

the delivery and Zahra Palace should also be vacated for him.<br />

Cordova was then under the control <strong>of</strong> Mu'tamid but Mu'tamid<br />

rejected the petition point blank and killed his envoy as a punishment<br />

for his impertinence <strong>of</strong> requesting gold instead <strong>of</strong> silver, as already<br />

mentioned. Hearing this Alfonso VI marched ahead and made the<br />

demand, after encamping on the bank <strong>of</strong> Guadalquivir, that the city<br />

and its palaces be vacated for him. Mu'tamid replied on the back <strong>of</strong><br />

his letter that he would not take much time in teaching him a lesson.<br />

This brief answer sent terror into the heart <strong>of</strong> Alfonso and he held<br />

back from attacking. However, he spread the rumor throughout that<br />

Mu'tamid had invited Yusuf bin Tashfain from Morocco to help him<br />

He did this because the Muslim chiefs <strong>of</strong> Spain disliked the entry <strong>of</strong><br />

the Moroccan king into their country and considered it a matter <strong>of</strong><br />

utter disgrace, yet they felt no shame in paying tribute to the<br />

Sett<br />

rum°r. *e p *£L j;:*:<br />

Step taken b bt^! ?,<br />

Y Mu'tamid.<br />

wrote Mu'tamid<br />

back the following to one and all:<br />

"I prefer watching the camels to favoring the pigs"<br />

serve Ws ZTTZ ' v “ ' AlfonSO Ca P* ured *«.<br />

would make him<br />

^ bm<br />

and ask hta tn<br />

Tashfam would take him to Morocco<br />

“ he Spain. He would.<br />

to become the prisoner <strong>of</strong><br />

Mu'tamid<br />

Alfonso.<br />

Mutanud Following this<br />

sent an ambassador to Yusuf bin Tashfain to seek his help

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