When al-Andalus is mentioned, what usually comes to mind is the splendor of the Alhambra Palace, the scholarly circles of Córdoba, the philosophy of Ibn Rushd, or the mystical world of Ibn al-ʿArabī. Yet the story of a civilization is not limited to its periods of glory and prosperity. Sometimes, the real story lies hidden within the traces left behind by people struggling quietly to survive during times of decline and dissolution. Aljamiado texts constitute one of the most sorrowful yet fascinating legacies of the history of al-Andalus.
When al-Andalus is mentioned, what usually comes to mind is the splendor of the Alhambra Palace, the scholarly circles of Córdoba, the philosophy of Ibn Rushd, or the mystical world of Ibn al-ʿArabī. Yet the story of a civilization is not limited to its periods of glory and prosperity. Sometimes, the real story lies hidden within the traces left behind by people struggling quietly to survive during times of decline and dissolution. Aljamiado texts constitute one of the most sorrowful yet fascinating legacies of the history of al-Andalus. Following the Reconquista, Muslims lost their political authority and gradually faced increasing religious and cultural pressure. Learning, writing, and even speaking Arabic became progressively restricted, and specifically practicing an Islamic identity turned dangerous. Despite these pressures, however, the Muslims in al-Andalus did not entirely lose their cultural memory. Although Moriscos spoke Arabic in daily life, as they began to write in Castilian, they also gradually began to forget Arabic. They desired to secretly preserve, maintain, and pass on their culture and religion to future generations. Thus, there emerged the unique literary tradition known as Aljamiado. 10At first glance, these texts may appear to be merely examples of a linguistic transition. In reality, however, they carry a much deeper significance. Aljamiado became the final refuge of a disappearing identity. Even when people could no longer think in Arabic, they sought to preserve their prayers, religious knowledge, stories, and collective memory within the protective world of Arabic letters. In this sense, the script itself became more than a writing system; it transformed into a symbol of belonging and resistance. Aljamiado texts contain a wide range of material, from religious instruction and prophetic narratives to moral advice and reflections on everyday life. For this reason, these writings are not simply literary or philological documents; they are also historical testimonies reflecting the fears, hopes, and struggle for survival of an entire community. Secretly copied and circulated by hand, such texts may be regarded as some of the clearest examples of the silent resistance of the Muslims of al-Andalus. Today, when we examine Aljamiado literature, we see not only a fragmented memory of the past but also the profound relationship between language, religion, and identity. A society may lose its land and political power, yet as long as it preserves its memory, it does not entirely disappear. The Castilian texts written in Arabic script by the Muslims of al-Andalus preserve precisely the traces of that memory. Perhaps this is why Aljamiado texts represent the quietest yet most moving story of al-Andalus. After the grandeur of palaces and magnificent cities faded away, what remained were sometimes only a few letters. Yet within those letters continued to live the pain, resilience, and memory of an entire civilization.