The relationship between Judaism and Islam in the medieval period

In the medieval period, Jews living under Islamic rule held the status of dhimmis, protected but subject to restrictions and a specific tax (the jizya). This framework, variable according to time and place, generally permitted them to practice their religion, administer their communal affairs, and participate in economic life. In the great centers of Arab-Islamic civilization, such as Baghdad, Cairo, and Córdoba, Jews contributed to the intellectual flourishing as physicians, grammarians, philosophers, and translators. The Judeo-Arabic symbiosis fostered the use of Arabic by Jewish thinkers, including Maimonides, and the development of Hebrew grammar and philosophy. This relationship also experienced periods of tension and persecution, but remains a fertile chapter in Jewish intellectual history.

Sources & resources

• Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World — Brill
• Encyclopaedia Judaica — 2e éd., Keter/Macmillan