Cordoba House

While the rest of Europe slept in darkness during the 8th century, in Al-Andalus (Southern Spain) the Muslim Moors set about building a society that honored knowledge and fostered intellectual pursuits; gained strength from its religious and social pluralism, and subsequently became the inspiration for the rise of Western culture and institutions.

At the centre of this transformation was the city of Cordoba. From the development of early cosmopolitan architecture to the mosques that served as universities, Cordoban life was modern and sophisticated. From 900 to 1100, it was credited as being the largest city in the world, boasting over 200,000 homes, 600 mosques and 900 public baths.

The Muslims that governed southern Spain developed an inclusive administrative culture, and the face of public life was diverse. Christians served as administrators, governors and advisors to the Caliphs. Both Jews and Christians were able to practice their faiths with complete freedom and were granted the right to administer separate courts to uphold their biblical traditions and laws. The atmosphere of tolerance, inclusiveness and respect witnessed in Cordoba inspired erudition in the multiple religious traditions in Cordoba. Christian, Jewish and Muslim scholars gathered to translate and subsequently to revive the traditions of the classic Greek philosophers at a time when the rest of the world lay stagnate in feudalistic traditions and overpowering monarchies. Cordoba became the centre of Jewish intellectual endeavors, being home to some of the most influential poets and commentators of the middle ages, such as Judah Halevi, and Maimonides.
It is in the light of the great history and patronage of the scholars and artisans of Cordoba that the Cordoba House receives its inspiration. We want to foster dialogue, facilitate understanding and promote research on Islam and Muslims in the West, and specifically, Canada. The commitment to scholarship and building of the intellectual and leadership elements of the Muslim community are amongst our most important priorities.

Our vision is to establish an information centre that promotes and focuses on research as well as providing the public a place where they come to gain an understanding of and engage in dialogue about Islam. The information centre is more than just a library, it is the way the Cordoba project will engage and inform communities. That will be through the promotion of literature, essays and journals.

The desired end result is for the Cordoba House to be a significant contributor to public discourse on Islam, multiculturalism, and inclusiveness.

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