THERE A LITTLE BIT OF MUSLIM IN ALL OF US: ALAMAMA!

(Ed.'s note: Dr. Tony Zavaleta lists the origins of names of medicinal plants in his book Medicinal Plants of the Borderlands: A Bilingual Resource Guide and we were sure we'd heard about some of the word origins before. Of particular interest to us was the name of albahaca (basil), which is Arabic in origin. That reminded us of an article published in pre-911 in a magazine supplement that was carried back in 1991 by the San Antonio Express called Mosaico, by writer Emiliano Paz. We tried to find the magazine supplement but apparently it has gone out of existence. We also tried to find Paz, to no avail. Below we print a translation (our own) of the article on Arabic-language words in the Spanish language.)

By Emiliano PazFrom Mosaico(c.1991)

Now that the eyes of the world are focused on the Arab ambiance, it's appropriate to remember that Hispanic culture is deeply rooted in Islamic history.

The Islamic creed – revealed to the prophet Mohammad in the 7th Century – extended rapidly from Arabia to Syria from the Palestine to India, Egypt and the Morroco. In the middle of the 8th Century the Islamic world covered more territory than the Roman empire.

It's presence is still felt in Spain, "the mother nation" of Latin America, which was conquered by Islam during more than 900 years. Its art, culture, even the Spanish language, reflect the influence of Mecca, Medina and Baghdad.

It was in the spring of 711 A.D. that the Islamic warrior Tariq ben-Ziyad crossed the strait that separated Africa from the Iberian Peninsula at the head of a 12,000-warrior muslim army. Atop a promontory that would be named gebbel Tariq – la montaña de Tariq, today Gibraltar – he confronted the defending Spanish troops headed by Rodrigo, king of the Visigoths.

"In front, the enemy, behind us, the sea," said Tariq to his troops. "There is no alternative. To victory."

One after another, the Iberian cities fell before the Moorish attackers. Toledo, the capital of the Visigoth kingdom, remained under Arab domination for 400 years, until Alfonso VI o Castilla y Leon recaptured it in 1085, at the start of the Reconquista.

Cordoba fell under the dominion of Syrian prince Abd al-Rahman, who in 756 planted his standard at the edge of the river Wadi al-Kavir, or – as it is now known – Guadalquivir.

At the start of 800 A.D. the Arabs controlled the major part of the Iberian Peninsula up north to Pamplona and the Miño River in the northeast.

Echoes of the Arab conquest – al-Andalus, or country to the west are observed in the famous Toledo swords, decorated with damasquinados (of Damascus) designs; in the door hinges that represent the hands of Fatima, daughter of Mohammad; in the "cante jondo" of Spanish gypsies whose tones makes us think of the religious Muslim songs emanating from minarets and mosques.

But is in the Spanish language the the Arab presence can be more clearly discerned. It is not an exaggeration to say that a day does not pass that a Spanish speaker somewhere in the world uses a word that originated in Arabic.

If you come from Alburquerque or Guadalajara (abu-al-queq, alcornoque (cork), wadi-al-hiyara, valley of the fortress), or named Guadalupe (wadi-al-hub, river of love) or your last name is Almargo, Jara or Limon (al-magra, red land, jara, bush; laimun, tart fruit), whether you live in a village or barrio (ad-daya, estate; barri, outside), or whether you are an alguacil (sheriff) or an albañil (mason), al-wassir, minister; al-banna, (builder), or whether you prefer albondigas, meatballs, or albacora, albacore (al-bunduga, al-bakora, fish)) your daily conversation will include Arab words.

And, if you are a mathmatician, you will speak of algebra, guarismos, y cifras (al-yabra, reduction, huarezmi, numbers, zifr, zero), if a lawyer, of albaceas and alcaldes (al-wassiya, testament or will, al-qadi, judge.

If you're into commerce, you might sell alcachofas (artichokes) jarabes (syrups), alcanfor (camphor), albahaca (basil), aceite (oil) and algodon (cotton), (al-jarhsuf, sarib, al-hafur, al-habaqa, az-zait, al-qurun) at a tarifa modesta, naturally, (tarifa) list of prices.

After selling alcohol in a jar, alcohol en una jarra (al-kuhl; yarra, jar), you will probably put your money in an alcancia (al-kanziyya), treasury.

According to French writer Louis Bertrand, Spain received three gifts from Islam: the concept of a university, art, and poetry. But, Bertrand adds, the Spaniards also inherited from their Islamic conqueror other less desirable traits:

*excessive individualism

*a notable disdain for the feminine side, now known as machismo

*a rapacious tendency and a leaning toward anarchism

James Michener, the prolific American writer of novels, described this tribal fragmentation as "a lamentable heredity of anarchy that keep Hispanic republics of our hemisphere in a state of confusion."

Spanish historian Antonio Vaca de Osma, in his monumental "Asi se hizo España" (This is the way Spain was Made) writes that the Arabs "introduced a fatalistic spirit reinforced our tribal primitism and belligerance and make us recalcitrant to a protracted effort and the practical sense of existence."

Additionally, "these traits hold back our progress as a united national society and add a differentiating ethnic element in many facets (of the culture).

However it may be, those traveling in Spain often soften their views when they view Muslim art that harks back to the days of the ancient invaders.

Granada, especially the Alhambra, is one of the prime and most important examples of Islamic culture. Built between 1248 and 1354 by the sultans of Nazarite dynasty, the Alhambra (al-hamra, the red building) is a magnificient palace whose walls are covered with complicated geometric designs. There are no paintings or sculptures in keeping with the Islamic tradition that opposes the creation of human imagery.

Granada was the last bastion of the Muslim empire in the Iberian Peninsula. The Christians recaptured Córdoba in 1236 and Sevilla in 1248. In 1492, the same year that Christopher Columbus sailed toward the Indies, the last Arab monarch, Mohamed Abu Abd Alla (Boabdil, The Unfortunate), surrendered Granada to the Catholic kings Ferdinand and Isabella.

As he was bidding his farewell to Granada, the leyend goes, Boabdil stopped for one last look from a top a hill, and wept over his lost kingdom. His mother, Aisha, rebuked him: "You do well in crying like a woman for what you could not defend as a man."

Even though there was an Arab presence on the peninsula for the next 100 years, the last Muslims were finally expelled in 1609.

Their heritage still exists 403 years later. The strait of Tariq still unites – more than separates – Spain with its Muslim ancestry.

SE HABLA ARABIYYE

alacran (al-aqrab) scorpion

marfil (azm alfil) ivory

alferez (al-feris), jinete (rider)

sultan (soltan), sovereign

alarde (al-ard) exhibition

jaque (sha) attack

alarido (al-garid) shouting

cimitarra (simsara) saber

alborozo (al-buruz) military parade

jazmin (yasimin) Jasmine

alcantarilla (al-qantara) aquaduct

ojala (wash-Allah) God willing

alcoba (al-qubba) bedroom

jabali (yabali) wild pig

alazan (al-hisan), sorrel (horse)

alcazar (al-qasr) castle

Almodovar (al-mudab-dar) round

Borges (burdz) tower

Cid (say-yid) lord, chief

Manzur (manzur) invincible

Medina (madina) city of the prophet