The Arab empire, particularly during the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties, generally promoted religious tolerance and allowed for the practice of different faiths within its territories. Muslim rulers typically granted protected status to Christians and Jews, known as "dhimmis," allowing them to practice their religions freely in exchange for paying a special tax. However, there were instances of persecution and forced conversions of religious minorities, particularly under more intolerant rulers such as Caliph al-Hakim of the Fatimid dynasty. Overall, Muslim rulers in the Arab empire tended to vary in their treatment of different religions, ranging from tolerance to discrimination, depending on the specific ruler and political climate of the time.
