What were the benefits of religious tolerance to the society of Moorish Spain?

Answer 1

The question makes an equivocation commonly made in analyzing Islamic Spain. While the Amazigh (derisively called Moors and occasionally called Berbers) were the majorities in political power in Islamic Spain, the particular regime of Umayyad Spain, which was the one that fostered this religious tolerance, was an Arab-Muslim-led regime. When the Amazigh actually did come to power in Spain in the Almoravid and Almohad Empires, they were notoriously intolerant of other religions, with the Almohads even persecuting Muslims who were not as fundamentalist as they were.

If we are talking about Islamic Spain under the Umayyads, a number of benefits accrued to this regime and its subjects because of the policy of religious tolerance.

1) Accumulation of Knowledge: Because people of all different faiths from various places were coming together without fear of subjugation, this provided a confluence of knowledge unlike most other places. It allowed for Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and Pagan (from some Saqaliba) influences to come together and criticize each others views.

2) Cultural Flowering: Artistic styles spread between different religious groups. Jews and Muslims copied each others' poetic styles. Jews, Christians, and Muslims improved their skills as apologists. Physical arts, crafts, and handiwork of each group were valued and mimicked by the others through the prism of their own faith. Not only that, Muslims would carve doors for churches and Christians would help construct mosques, all to the specifications of the recipient, but using the stylistic elements of their own traditions.

3) Assertions of Identity: With a semblance of religious toleration, the various religious groups were able to assert their own unique beliefs without fear of oppression or intimidation. It is no accident that many of Judaism's clearest statements of belief prior to the modern era come out of Islamic Spain since they were able to more forthrightly argue their positions. Mozarabic Christians were often better educated than Spaniards in the northern Christian Kingdoms, allowing the Mozarabic Christians to come to the north and enrich the local Christian culture.

4) Unique Courts and Authorities: Under Islamic Law, each religious group had its own courts for domestic and familial issues. This allowed each religious group to self-organize under laws that they would approve of.