Spanish Muslims and Christians were visually indistinguishable at a glance

Evidence

So it may well have been the case that in the sixteenth century the Muslims of the peninsula did tend to be darker in color than their Christian neighbors (although we cannot assert that with any degree of certainty). But any difference of appearance or complexion that may have been observable over the whole population certainly did not apply to all individuals. And if there were differences of skin pigmentation, they were not so marked that one could tell at a glance to which community a person belonged. (If the Inquisition had been able with confidence to tell from a man’s face what were his religious allegiances, it might have been spared the embarrassing task that had to be undertaken during some of its trials: that of inspecting the prisoner’s foreskin.) — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 81 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Despite its mistakes, this is an intelligent description; the detail of the hands to the ears is misinterpreted but well observed. It is evident that the observer had some feeling for the Muslim ritual; living in isolation from Christian society he had a greater mental freedom to help him observe accurately. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1159 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Spanish Christians under Muslim rule became culturally and linguistically Arabized.; Spanish Muslims were not visually distinguishable from Christians by appearance alone — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 81; Contemporary engravings depict Spanish Muslims with Iberian rather than Arab facial features — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 82 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Spanish Muslims were not visually distinguishable from Christians by appearance alone #corroborates (1.00) — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 81
• Social distance from Christian society enabled more accurate observation of Islam #complicates (0.75) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1159