But for any competent ruler, religion is just a tool.
Taqidin was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "I must admit you're right. In Egypt, many nobles are secretly adopting the customs of heretics. They are fond of astrology, alchemy, and some have even secretly converted to the Coptic Church."
The Coptic Church is a branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church (including the Armenian Apostolic Church, etc.), which broke away from the Orthodox Church of Constantinople six hundred years ago and is still widely present in Egypt and the southern Ethiopian region.
Under the rule of the Saracens, or Arabs, in Egypt, conversion of heretics was not enforced, which is a typical practice of the Fire Worship. In fact, many Saracen Lords were not keen on heretic conversion.
This meant they could no longer levy the non-believer tax (an extra tax on heretics).
But this does not include the ruling class.
