Why were moorish rulers initially somewhat tolerant of Christians and Jews in Spain? Was it because Christian and Jewish worship one God. Or Christian Jews paid Muslims rulers tribute.
The Moorish rulers in Spain were initially somewhat tolerant of Christians and Jews for a few reasons. One reason was that Islamic teachings encourage the protection of "People of the Book," which includes Christians and Jews, as they are seen as followers of monotheistic religions. Additionally, allowing Christians and Jews to practice their own religions helped maintain a sense of social harmony and stability within the diverse population of al-Andalus.
Furthermore, Christians and Jews in Spain were often skilled professionals, merchants, and intellectuals who made valuable contributions to Moorish society, so it was to the rulers' advantage to allow them to continue living and working in the region. In some cases, Christians and Jews may have paid tribute to the Muslim rulers in exchange for protection and the right to practice their religions freely, but this was not the sole reason for the tolerance shown towards them.