 At the beginning of Saladin 's reign as sultan in Egypt , upon the encouragement of his adviser , Qadi al @-@ Fadil , Christians were prohibited from employment in the fiscal administration , but various Ayyubid emirs continued to allow Christians to serve in their posts . A number of other regulations were imposed , including the bans on alcohol consumption , religious processions , and the ringing of church bells . Conversion of formerly high @-@ ranking Christians and their families to Islam took place throughout the early period of Ayyubid rule . According to historian Yaakov Lev , the persecution of non @-@ Muslims had some permanent effects on them , but nonetheless , the effects were local and contained . To manage Mediterranean trade , the Ayyubids permitted Europeans — mainly Italians , but also French and Catalans — to settle in Alexandria in large numbers . However , in the aftermath of the Fifth Crusade , 3 @,@ 000 merchants from the area were arrested or expelled . 
