Compare and contrast the treatment of different religions by rulers of the Arab empire.
Compare and contrast the treatment of different religions by rulers of the Arab empire. K
The treatment of different religions by rulers of the Arab empire varied depending on the specific ruler and time period. However, there were some general trends and patterns that can be compared and contrasted.
Islam, as the dominant religion of the Arab empire, was generally favored and received preferential treatment under most rulers. Islamic law was the basis for the legal system, and Islamic scholars held important positions in the government. Non-Muslims (known as dhimmis) were required to pay a special tax, called the jizya, and had certain restrictions on their behavior, such as not being allowed to build new places of worship or proselytize to Muslims.
Under the Umayyad caliphs, who ruled from 661 to 750, there was a policy of Arabization, which involved promoting Arabic language and culture at the expense of non-Arab cultures and languages. This often meant that non-Arabic-speaking people (such as Persians and Berbers) and non-Muslims were discriminated against.
However, there were some exceptions to this pattern of favoring Islam over other religions. For example, the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun (reigned 813-833) was seen as a champion of religious tolerance and established the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, which was a center of learning that welcomed scholars of all religions.
In terms of specific religions, Christianity and Judaism were generally tolerated as "People of the Book" (i.e. religions that have a holy book, such as the Bible or Torah) and were allowed to practice their faith in limited ways. However, there were periods of persecution and discrimination against these groups, such as when the Fatimid Caliphate established a religiously exclusivist policy and persecuted Sunnis and Jews. In contrast, Zoroastrianism (the ancient Persian religion) was often targeted for discrimination and persecution, as it was seen as a rival to Islam.
Overall, the treatment of different religions by rulers of the Arab empire was complex and varied depending on the specific context. While Islam was generally given preferential treatment, there were exceptions to this pattern, and different religions were tolerated (or not) to varying degrees throughout the history of the Arab empire.