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    This issue is lengthy and many-sided. Our guide however will be the Andalusian legacy especially biographies, indices and letters on the merits of Andalusians. Examples include Abu Mohammad Ibn Hazm (d. 456 A.H.), Al Hassan Ibn Al Rabib Al Oayrawani; the letter of Abu Al Walid Al Shaqandi (d. 629 A.H.), Yahia Ibn Al Muallem Al Tanji; the letter of Lisan Al Din Ibn Al Khatib (d. 776 A.H.) on Prides of Malaga and Sala and the letters of Ali Ibn Sa'd Al Maghrebi (d. 685 A.H.) reported by Ahmad Al Maqri (d. 1041 A.H.) in his encyclopedia entitled 'Nafh AI- Teeb Min Ghusn Al-Andalus Al Rateeb'. Andalusia gave birth to a large number of scientists, legislators, writers, poets, doctors, etc. who enriched the intellect through their works and had an impact on the European mind.

The following names are but examples of these celebrities. Legislator Abu Mohammad Ali Ibn Hazm AI Ourtubi (d. 456 A.H./1063 A.D.) reflects in his writings his originality and pride in himself and his homeland. His most famous works include: 'Tawk Al Hamama Fi Al Ulfat wal Alaf' which deals with love, its meaning, causes and symptoms. He contradicts his predecessors who wrote on courtly love, and adopts an independent approach displaying his maturity and originality.

Europeans were very interested in his book and considered it the first analysis of the emotion of love and translated it into several languages. His other book entitled: 'Al Fasl Fi Al Milal wal Ahwa'a Wannihal' is a critical comparative study of religions, sects and various religious groups. It should be noted that this kind of study, i.e. comparative study of religions, appeared in Europe only in the last century, which is an indication of the originality of this book and its contribution to human civilization.

    His friend and contemporary Abu Marwan Ibn Hayyan Al Ourtubi (d. 469 A.H.) 11076 A.D.) is considered the greatest historian produced by Islamic and Christian Spain in the Middle Ages. The information in his two works: ' AI Muqtabas' and 'AI Matayn' prove that he was very knowledgeable in the history of Andalusia and the history of the Christian Spanish Kingdoms in addition to some aspects of French history beyond the Pyrenees.

    Indeed, Ibn Hayyan's writings are like a scientific treasure chest for this Arab Spanish legacy in its various forms. They are indispensable to any scholar .

    The famous surgeon Abu Al Qassim Khalaf Al Zahrawi (d. 403 A.H.11013 A.D.) also descends from Al Zahra's huerta, one of the Cordoba suburbs. He was known in Europe as Abulcasis. His book 'Al- Tasrif Li Mun A'jez 'An Al Ta'alif' is a medical encyclopedia with drawings of surgical devices. AI Zahrawi, by virtue of this work, is considered the first to base surgery on a detailed science of anatomy. This book was translated into Latin and Hebrew and was also published in Hyderabad in India. The Bani Zahr family from Seville, were pioneers in the field of medical writing during the Al-Moravids and the Al-Mohades. Ibn Zahr has become well known to European scientific circles under the name of Avenzoar.

    In philosophy it would be enough to mention Abu Al Walid Mohammad Ibn Rushd Al Ourtobi (d. 595 A.H.11198 A.D.) who became known for his commentaries on Aristotle's books. His philosophy was taught in European universities like Paris and Padova in Italy. His writing was characterized by deep analysis, persuasive explanation and integrity in translation. They also called him the Great Master or Averroes. The Italian poet Alighieri Dante placed him in Limbo in the Divine Comedy between Heaven and Hell. He also placed Ibn Sina and Saladdin with him being good people and in appreciation to their deeds. Michael Scott translated Ibn Rushd's works into Latin at the Toledo academy in 1230 A.D., thus becoming the first to introduce Ibn Rushd's philosophy to Europe.

    In folk poetry, we note the blind poet Muqaddam Ibn Mu'afi Al Oabri (d. 299 A.H.1912 A.D.) from the town of Oabra, in Cordoba province. He was the inventor of the Muwashahat in Arabic poetry-a post classical form of Arab poetry arranged in stanzas and with free prosody. The poet Abu Bakr Mohammad Ibn Oazman Al Ourtubi (d. 507 A.H.11114 A.D.) invented another form called 'Zajal' which he used to sing in the market place accompanied by instruments and singers. It is to be noticed that both the Muwashaha and the Zajal are similar; however the Al Muwashaha is purely Arabic save its epilogue which was in Spanish or Spanish vernacular. Zajal on the other hand was in colloquial dialect with some Spanish words. This Spanish folk song with its epilogue and Al Zajal later on influenced not only Arabic Poetry but also the poetry that emerged in southern Europe at the end of the 5th Hijra century (11th century A.D.). Roving singers known as troubadours in northen Spain used this new style. It is also said that the songs, known as 'villancico' and sung by the Spanish people during Christmas festivities, were Andalusian Zajal. Last but not least is the scientist and Minister Lisan El Din Ibn AI Khatib (d. 776 A.H.11374 A.D.) whose writings even reached the kings of his age, both Muslim and Christian, who frequently responded to them. One example is the advice he sent to the king of Seville, Pedro and reported by the contemporary Spanish historian Luis de Ayala in his work on the history of the kings of Seville.

    The early Spanish historian Stephan Gariby says in his book entitled: ' An outline of the History of the Kingdoms of Spain' that the moral values preached by this Muslim Ibn Al Khatib were better than those of Seneca and other ancient stoic philosophers.