Moorish rulers were initially somewhat tolerant of Christians and Jews in Spain because they followed the Islamic principle of "dhimma," which granted certain religious minorities protection and allowed them to practice their own religions as long as they paid a special tax. Additionally, Christians and Jews were seen as "People of the Book" in Islam, sharing a common religious heritage with Muslims, which also contributed to the relative tolerance towards them. Furthermore, Christians and Jews were often highly skilled and educated individuals, and their presence in the Moorish territories was beneficial for the economy and administration.
