Andalus,”a month-long exhibition that recently concluded in Riyadh's National Museum, represented the Islamic civilization and culture of creativity and scientific research. It was an effort to portray the Muslim culture and the scientific prowess that prevailed in Spain's early development. The Saudi capital was the first destination in the Gulf region for Gardens of Al-Andalus since its inception some 13 years ago. The expo had already toured major part of Spain and countries in North Africa. Prior to its presentation in Riyadh, “Gardens of Al-Andalus” has visited many places in Spain – the Botanic Garden of Cordoba, the Royal Botanic Garden of Madrid, the Royal Alc?zar in Seville, the Alhambra in Granada, and Toledo, amongst others. In its Arabic version, it was displayed in the city of Aleppo in Syria and in the main cities of the countries in the North Africa. The “Garden of Al-Andalus” showcased many texts, photographs, scale models and olfactory displays enabling visitors to smell the many botanical species, as well as virtual models of historical gardens. The people of Al-Andalus inherited this knowledge from their ancestors in the eastern Islamic world, and partly from their Roman forebears. Their proverbial thirst for learning led to major botanic and scientific developments. A true “green revolution” took place, which spread agriculture all over Al-Andalus and sowed the seeds of trade in agricultural produce. Gardens, created by most Muslim dynasties in Spain, contributed to the Islamic heritage there. “Medieval gardens in the world of Islam, of which only a small handful of graphic and literary descriptions have come down to the world, differed from region to region. Although influenced by local tradition, they were always designed around the spiritual concept of the garden of Paradise. The Umayyad dynasty brought to the Islamic West a love of gardens, blending Eastern inspirations of broad horizons with the concept of walled gardens — which, according to the descriptions of the Qur'an, were equally attractive,” wrote the Islamic Cultural Foundation's editorial, Al-Fadila. Madrid-based Islamic Culture Foundation (FUNCI), a non-governmental organization (NGO) developed the concept to represent the rich Islamic culture through organizing “Gardens of Al-Andalus.” According to FUNCI “Gardens of Al-Andalus” is intended to display botanical gardens that have adequate facilities, as well as historical or contemporary buildings. It explains the different types and morphology of the Hispano-Muslim garden, the function and the plants that grew in it. The basic purpose of the exhibition is to reflect the concept of the Orchard Garden, the Scientific Garden, the Mystic Garden, and the Poetry Garden in a visually relevant way for modern audiences, said FUNCI. Al-Andalus is the best example that maintained a scientific and cultural standard, which is preserved until today. “Such gardens, of Qur'anic inspiration, are also related to the hortus conclusus (enclosed garden) of the Semitic tradition,” said FUNCI. “Oh dwellers of Al-Andalus, what blessings you enjoy, water, shade, rivers and trees! The Garden of Eternal Happiness is not abroad but here in your lands: Could I but choose, this place would be my choice,” wrote Abu Ishaq bin Ibrahim Bin Abu Al-Fath Ibn Khafajah (1058-1138/9), one of the most famous poets of Al-Andalus. By all accounts, visitors at Gardens of Al-Andalus found the exhibit an enriching experience. Pablo Bravo, Ambassador of Spain to Saudi Arabia believed that the information that the exhibition disseminated to the visitors perfectly illustrated the mixture of cultural traditions that shaped the Andalusian culture.
