Aljamiado Facts for Kids

This old book shows Al-Fatiha (a prayer from the Quran) with Spanish translations written in Aljamiado script.

Aljamiado writing from the 1500s.

The Poema de Yuçuf is a famous Aljamiado text.

Aljamiado is a special way of writing. It means using the Arabic script (the alphabet used for Arabic) to write other languages, especially European ones like Spanish, Portuguese, or Aragonese.

The word "Aljamiado" comes from the Arabic word ʿajamiyah, which means "foreign language." It was used to describe people who were not of Arabian origin. In writing, Aljamiado is when you use the Arabic alphabet to write a Romance language (languages that came from Latin, like Spanish).

People in a place called Al-Andalus (parts of Spain ruled by Muslims long ago) used Aljamiado for everyday talking and writing. Arabic was kept for important things like science, high culture, and religion.

Writing European languages with Arabic script became more common in the 1400s and 1500s. An important Aljamiado text from 1462 is called Suma de los principales mandamientos y devediamentos de nuestra santa ley y sunna.

Later, a group of people called Moriscos were not allowed to use Arabic for religious purposes. So, they wrote about Islamic topics in Spanish, but still using the Arabic script. One example is the Coplas del alhichante de Puey Monzón, which tells the story of a Hajj (a pilgrimage to Mecca). Another is the Poema de Yuçuf, which is about the Biblical Joseph.

How Moriscos Used Aljamiado

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Aljamiado letters show how Arabic script was adapted for Spanish sounds.

Aljamiado was very important for the Moriscos to keep their Islamic faith and the Arabic language alive. Moriscos were Muslims who lived in parts of Spain after the last Muslim kingdom fell. They were forced to become Christian or leave Spain. They had to follow Christian customs and go to church.

However, many Moriscos secretly kept their Islamic beliefs and traditions. Using Aljamiado was one way they did this.

In 1567, Philip II of Spain made a rule that Moriscos could not use Arabic at all, whether speaking or writing. It was a crime to use Arabic. They were given three years to learn Spanish. After that, they had to get rid of all their Arabic books and writings.

So, Moriscos in some parts of Spain translated their prayers and the Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) into Spanish. But they wrote these Spanish words using the Arabic alphabet (Aljamiado). They kept the actual Qur'an verses in original Arabic. These Aljamiado writings were passed around secretly among the Moriscos.

Historians only found out about Aljamiado writings in the early 1800s. Some of these old Aljamiado scrolls are now kept in the Spanish National Library in Madrid.

Other Ways Aljamiado Was Used

The word "Aljamiado" is sometimes used for other languages written in Arabic letters, not just Romance languages.

Jewish communities: Jewish people also wrote Romance languages like Spanish or Catalan using the Hebrew script. This practice is also sometimes called Aljamiado.
Bosnian and Albanian: During the time of the Ottoman Empire, people wrote Bosnian and Albanian using the Arabic alphabet. Some people call this Aljamiado, but many linguists prefer to use the term Arebica for Slavic languages like Bosnian.
Greek: The word "Aljamiado" is also used to describe Greek written with the Arabic or Ottoman alphabet.

Aljamiado facts for kids

How Moriscos Used Aljamiado

Other Ways Aljamiado Was Used

See also