Question
Compare and contrast the treatment of different religions by rulers of the Arab empire.
(4 points)
1. Islam: The rulers of the Arab empire, being predominantly Muslim themselves, treated Islam as the state religion and promoted its spread throughout their territories. They built mosques, funded Islamic schools, and enforced Islamic law. Conversion to Islam was often encouraged and rewarded, while non-Muslims were sometimes subjected to discriminatory laws or taxes.
2. Christianity: While Christianity was tolerated in the Arab empire, especially in areas with significant Christian populations such as Egypt and Syria, Christians often faced restrictions on their religious practices and were sometimes subjected to persecution. However, rulers like Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab granted Christians certain rights and protections under Islamic law.
3. Judaism: Jews in the Arab empire generally fared better than Christians, as they were considered People of the Book in Islam. While they faced some discrimination and occasional persecution, Jews were allowed to practice their religion freely and were given some autonomy in their communities.
4. Zoroastrianism: Zoroastrianism, an ancient pre-Islamic religion, faced significant persecution and forced conversions under the Arab rulers. Many Zoroastrians were forced to convert to Islam or face death or exile, leading to a decline in the practice of their faith in the Arab empire.
Overall, the treatment of different religions by rulers of the Arab empire varied depending on the rulers' religious beliefs and policies, with Islam receiving the most favoritism and other religions facing varying degrees of tolerance or persecution.