Antonio Banderas And His Love Of Islam, The Qur’an And Arabs
Antonio Banderas the Spanish actor and singer reveals in this interview his true feelings for Arab culture and Islam.
Antonio Banderas reveals a side that many fans in Hollywood will have never seen before. He talks about his next big project: Boabdil: The Last King. A film about the Andalucian Muslim monarch Muhammad XII of Granada (known as Boabdil to the Spanish) who surrendered the city to Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catholic king and queen of Castile and Aragon:
“Recently at the Toronto International Film Festival I saw Antonio Banderas and his wife, Melanie Griffith…..
…We started talking about Arabic culture and his fascination with the region. He told me about how he has created a project dear to him that he will be shooting shortly called Boabdil: The Last King. The film tells the story of King Boabdil, who surrendered Granada to the Catholic king and queen in 1492.
Antonio invited my wife and I to visit him at his house in Los Angeles after the festival. As a producer and filmmaker, I have met many people in my time who are extremely passionate about their projects. What I didn’t expect was to be moved the way I was when Antonio described his film. Boabdil is about the last Arab king to rule Spain. And while Antonio started talking, I could hear his love for Arab culture. He believes he has an Arabic bloodline that can be traced from his Andalusian ancestral roots to Islam.
We listened to a variety of songs and even Quranic verses that he has researched and he loves to listen to. Antonio described how the Arab influence made Spain what it is today: rich in culture and heritage……
…Antonio told me that he was planning a trip to the region and I asked him if he would consider coming to Abu Dhabi and attending the Middle East International Film Festival. He agreed. I hope he will walk away with an idea of the Arabic heritage and hospitality that Abu Dhabi can provide.” (Source: The National)
Who would have thought it possible, eh ?
For more on Muslims in Spain see:
- Google Video: A History Of Islam In Europe
- It’s 400 Years Since Europe First Ethnically Cleansed Muslims
- Google Video: The Hijab In Secular European Schools
- Spain And Her Islamic Past
Image source: Howie_Berlin
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March 3rd, 2010 at 11:02
antonio banderas is my all time favourite actor.He should accept Islam.This is my Heart Desire.
March 20th, 2010 at 08:46
He is a devout Catholic and even makes pilgrimages to a Catholic shrine in that region. So i doubt he will accept the truth that is Islam willingly. Though in time all of Europe will be under Islam so regardless it does not matter. Constantinople has fallen and Rome will to as prophesized by Muhammed [pbuh].
May 24th, 2010 at 00:42
Arab culture like every culture is beautiful, Islam like all religion is non true. People may believe the teachings but that does not make them true.
Honestly i pray that Islam does not conquer Europe and plunge it into the dark ages. Granted islamdom was years if not centuries ahead of European culture in the dark/middle ages but it isn’t any more.
The sanctioning of the marriage between a grown man and a 9 year old is just plain wrong. Yes I don’t like it and I would like to think God knows best, but in this case he obviously doesn’t. Unless of course they are not his words.
August 11th, 2010 at 09:49
Arab culture is a very beautiful and rich, Islam is a true religion and you must know, read and make researches about this religion before making any prejudice. It is much more than marrying young girls to old men. Islam brings light to our dark life. When Muslims ruled Spain, it was a time of innovation, creation in many fields like astronomy, architecture and science and much more. Note that it was an Arab and Muslim scientist who first designed the map to discovering the New world.
August 15th, 2010 at 22:36
i think that it would be wonderful if he converted, anyone who is seeking for love and peace should join the loving embrace that islam will have on you, answers you couldn,t answer will be answerd, islam is truley beautiful religion,may ALLAH bless anyone who joins, God bless you all and may he lead you to the right path, ameen