mustaarab

Mustaarab is a term with historical and cultural significance, primarily referring to Christians and Jews who lived in al-Andalus, the Muslim-ruled Iberian Peninsula. The term itself is derived from the Arabic word "musta'rib," meaning "one who becomes like an Arab." This designation applied to non-Muslims who adopted Arabic language, customs, and sometimes even dress, integrating into the dominant Arab-Andalusian society while maintaining their religious identities.

These communities were often afforded dhimmi status, a protected non-Muslim minority within an Islamic state. This status granted them religious freedom and communal autonomy but also imposed certain restrictions and taxes, such as the jizya. Despite these limitations, the Mustaarab communities played a vital role in the cultural and intellectual flourishing of al-Andalus. They contributed to the preservation and transmission of classical knowledge and were involved in various professions, including medicine, philosophy, and scholarship. Their linguistic assimilation into Arabic facilitated a rich exchange of ideas between different religious and cultural groups.

The term "Mustaarab" is distinct from "Mudejar," which refers to Muslims who remained in Christian-controlled territories after the Reconquista. The experience of the Mustaarab was one of cultural adaptation and coexistence within a Muslim-majority society, leaving a lasting imprint on the history of the Iberian Peninsula.