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
The term "Mustaarab" is distinct from "Mudejar," which refers to Muslims who remained in Christian-controlled territories