The Arab Empire showed great toleration and acceptance of non-Muslim communities. This was based around existing Muslim laws regarding the status of non-Muslims. They were protected, given religious freedoms, and were free from persecution according to the Shariah law. Each nation was allowed to elect its own religious figure within the empire to lead them. In cases of crime, people would be punished according to the rules of their own religion, not Islamic rules. They also had the freedom to their own language and education.