Islam
Recognizes
Jesus
as a prophet and his mother as Holy Virgen . Mohammed -the Prophet of Islam- , who had an Egyptian wife named "Coptic Maria" (mother of Ibrahim his son) , preached especial kindness towards Copts: "When you conquer
Egypt
, be kind to the Copts for they are your proteges and kith and kin" . For these reasons and the four centuries that followed the Arab's conquest of Egypt , the Coptic Church generally flourished and Egypt remained basically Christian .
Copts , thus , were allowed to freely practice their religion and were to a large degree autonomous , provided they continued to pay a special tax , called "Gezya" , that qualifies them as "Ahl Zemma" proteges (protected) . Copts , despite additional sumptuary laws that were imposed on them in 750-868 A . D . and 905-935 A . D . under the Abbasid Dynasties , prospered and their Church enjoyed one of its most peaceful era .
This continued , untill the The Crusaders , when the Copts and the syrian , under the arabic rule found themselves in critical situation .
)
)
