Almohad Caliphate - Status of The Jews

Status of The Jews

The Almohads, who had taken control of the Almoravids' Maghribi and Andalusian territories by 1147, treated the dhimmis (non-Muslims) harshly. But while reports of violent and intolerant attitudes towards non-Muslims exist, the sources for these are very limited and subject to interpretation. During the Almohad and Almoravid reign Jewish culture experienced a Golden Age. María Rosa Menocal, a specialist in Iberian literature at Yale University, has argued that "Tolerance was an inherent aspect of Andalusian society". Menocal's 2003 book, The Ornament of the World, argues that the Jewish dhimmis living under the Caliphate, while allowed fewer rights than Muslims, were still better off than in other parts of Christian Europe. Jews from other parts of Europe made their way to al-Andalus, where in parallel to Christian sects regarded as heretical by Catholic Europe, they were not just tolerated, but where opportunities to practise faith and trade were open without restriction save for the prohibitions on proselytism. However tolerance dropped under Almohad rule and many Jews were also forced to convert or to wear identifying clothing so that their religion would be known. Many Jews and Christians emigrated. A few, like the family of Maimonides, eventually fled east to more tolerant Muslim lands,