What was the name given to the Muslims who lived in Spain?

Answer 1

Typically, these Muslims are called MOORS.

However, this term is both an antiquated and derisive one as well as being an inaccurate one. The proper term for the "Moors" is "AMAZIGH", as they are known in their language, or "Berbers" as both Westerners and Arabs have identified them. Amazigh are the indigenous people of the Maghreb or northwest Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.) Amazigh come in nearly every color, from pale white skin to dark black skin.

The term is inaccurate because there were numerous significant minorities of Muslims who lived in Spain. The largest minority were ARABS or Muslims coming from Middle East. They were a mix of people from Arabia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. Arabs were actually the rulers of all of Islamic Spain from 711-1038 C.E., after which the Amazigh became much more powerful and prominent, especially with the Almoravid and Almohad Caliphates. However, the last Islamic nation in Spain was the Arab Nasrid Emirate of Granada, which existed alone from 1252-1492.

Another major group were the MULADIS who were indigenous Iberians/Spaniards who converted to Islam. Muladis very rarely wielded political power and were often taxed as Non-Muslims, but there were occasions when they were able to gain power in the Taifa Kingdoms, which were Islamic city-states in southern Spain which developed after the fall of Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba, but before the Almoravid invasion and again after the Almohads were excised from Spain, but before the Christian North conquered all of them save the Emirate of Granada.

The last major group of Muslims in Spain were the former Slavic Slaves called SAQALIBA. The Muslims had a massive slave trade throughout the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe (as well as with Sub-Saharan Africa). One of the largest places of origin for Islamic Slaves was southeastern and eastern Europe, where numerous Slavic peoples were sold into slavery. Many of these Slavs became slaves in Islamic Spain. However, some were able to earn their freedom, usually by a combination of luck, physical ability to overpower their master, and conversion to Islam. These now-freed Slavs who had been born in Spain and were now Muslims were called Saqaliba. Saqaliba very rarely wielded political power, but there were occasions when they were able to gain power in the Taifa Kingdoms (like the Muladis). The Saqaliba famously ruled the Taifa of Denia, which controlled parts of the Balaeric Islands and Valencia.

Answer 2

The Muslims who lived in Spain were known as Moors. They were predominantly of Berber and Arab descent and ruled over Spain for several centuries during the medieval period.

Answer 3

I think they were called Mussalman