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Protecting Non-Muslims' Rights
Prophet Muhammad said, "He who
unfairly treats a non-Muslim who keeps a peace treaty with
Muslims, or undermines his rights, or burdens him beyond his
capacity, or takes something from him without his consent; then
I am his opponent on the Day of Judgment" [Abu Dawud and Al-Bayhaqi]
The Prophet also said, "He who harms a non-Muslim who keeps a
peace treaty with Muslims has harmed me, and he who harms me has
harmed Allah" [At-Tabarani in Al-Awsat]
And he said, "He who kills a non-Muslim who keeps a peace treaty
with the Muslims will not smell the scent of Heaven, though its
scent can be traced to as far as a march of 40 years" [Imam
Ahmad and Al-Bukhari in Al-Jizyah]
Where alcoholic drinks and pork cannot be considered as money to
Muslims, if a Muslim squanders or spoils such property of
another Muslim, he could NOT be called upon for compensation.
Yet if a Muslim spoils such assets belonging to a non-Muslim, he
would be responsible for compensation. [Imam Abu Hanifah]
Imam Al-Qarafi Al-Maliki once said, "He who transgresses against
them (Dhimmis)—even with a mere word of injustice or backtalk—
has jeopardized the covenant with Allah and His Prophet and the
covenant of the religion of Islam"
[Al-Furuq Part 3, p. 14]
Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab was reported to have seen a senile
Jewish man asking for alms, and hence took him to the treasury
and authorized a monthly pension for him and the likes of him.
Non-Muslims were permitted to build their own houses of worship
under Muslim rule. Two examples of early Islam are the
construction of the Mar Marcus Church in Alexandria (between AH
39 and 56), and the construction of the first church in Fustat
in the Roman Alley during the reign of Maslamah ibn Mikhled
(between the years AH 47 and 68).
The historian Al-Maqrizi once said, "All modern day Cairo
churches were undoubtedly restored in Islam."
Imam Al-Mawardi authorized Dhimmis to undertake executive
ministries rather than delegate ministries. Executive ministers
are those who implement and execute the imam's orders.
During the Abbasid era, Christians undertook the ministry more
than once; for example, Nasr ibn Haroun in AH 369 and Eissa ibn
Nastorus in AH 380. Mu`awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan had also appointed
a Christian clerk named Sarjoun.
"We find it very surprising the abundance of non-Muslim laborers
and senior staff within the Muslim state; where Christians
governed Muslims in Muslim provinces, and complaints against
non-Muslims' seniority in these provinces dates far back"
[Adam Mitz, Islamic Civilization in the Fourth Hijri Century,
part 1, p. 105]
Source: Extracted from an article by Massoud Sabri, a researcher
in Dar al-`Ulum Collage in Cairo University and an editor in
IslamOnline.net, Arabic page, reviewing, Non-Muslims in Muslim
Societies: Contemporary Ijtihad The Rights of Non-Muslims in
Society: A Reading of Al-Qaradawi Thought.
May Allah Almighty have mercy and guide us all to treating
everyone fairly and justly, ameen.
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