I have a question?

[student2k6]

Hi

I am student of Sociology and currently researching treatment of minorities within different ideologies. I came across your most interesting site and found much information about how Muslims view Capitalism and Imperialism which I agree with, I have previously studied a bit about the Caliphate. What I am interested to find out about though is whether the Caliphate would allow for Christians, Jews and others to practice their faith in such states and also to engage in dialogue with Muslims about inter-faith differences.

I am interested in quotes from the Koran or any history books by muslims and non-muslims and answer to questions but please no lengthy articles. I hope you are able to help.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Mark

[dksadiq]

To the best of my knowledge, yes. Islam does allow Christians and Jews to practice their faith in a muslim state. According to a book "Muslim Heroes o the Crusades" by Shahnaz Husain,

"After consuering the city [Jerusalem in 638CE] he [Umar (RA) - the Caliph (leader)] gave strict instructions that Christians and Jews living there be allowed a freedom to worship. Their places of worship, notably the Christians Church the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (where the Prophet 'Isa's [Jesus] (AS) tomb is supposedly located) as well as other relligous relics, had to be let intact. The revealed religions other than Islam would be tolerated provided they pay a nominal tax, Jizyah, which would grant them extensive protection under muslim rule".

[] - my additions

[Salman Al-Farsi]

Hi

I am student of Sociology and currently researching treatment of minorities within different ideologies. I came across your most interesting site and found much information about how Muslims view Capitalism and Imperialism which I agree with, I have previously studied a bit about the Caliphate. What I am interested to find out about though is whether the Caliphate would allow for Christians, Jews and others to practice their faith in such states and also to engage in dialogue with Muslims about inter-faith differences.

I am interested in quotes from the Koran or any history books by muslims and non-muslims and answer to questions but please no lengthy articles. I hope you are able to help.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Mark

Hello Mark

Thank you for your kind comments. With regards to your question about Non-Muslims living in the Islamic State, much has been written in Islamic history and reported by the Prophet. Firstly, Non-Muslim citizens of the Islamic State are known by the title Ahl Al-Dhimma (people of covenant). It is important to note from the outset that Allah, the Creator and Legislator revealed and directed the Islamic system not exclusively to Muslims but to mankind, therefore the Messenger was a Messenger to Mankind and not to the Arabs or the Muslims, therefore transcending Race, Colour, Gender, Religion etc. This idea is the basis for much of the thrust of the Islamic State’s future conduct and work.

Allah says, to the nearest meaning in the English language,
"We have sent you as a mercy to all mankind" [Al-Anbiya: 107].


The way the Creator and therefore Muslims look upon the application and treatment of the Ahl Al-Dhimma is as a means by which practically convince them of Islam. This should not be understood to mean that we force non-Muslims to accept Islam, but we aim to convince, Allah says, again to the nearest meaning in the English language,
"Let there be no compulsion in religion" [Al-Baqarah: 256].


Before directly answering your question, I feel it pertinent to clarify that the Ahl Al-Dhimma by definition are protected by a covenant.


The Prophet Mohammed (saw) said:

"The one who kills a Mu'ahid without right he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise even if its smell was forty years travelling distance" [Ahmed].


A Classical scholar of Islam Imam Qarafi also summed up the responsibility of the State to the dhimmi when he said: "It is the responsibility of the Muslims to the People of the Dhimma to care for their weak, fulfil the needs of the poor, feed the hungry, provide clothes, address them politely, and even tolerate their harm even if it was from a neighbour, even though the Muslim would have an upper hand. The Muslims must also advise them sincerely on their affairs and protect them against anyone who tries to hurt them or their family, steal their wealth, or violates their rights."

T. W. Arnold, in his book "The Preaching of Islam," wrote about the treatment of non-Muslims who lived under the Uthmani Khilafah. He states, "...though the Greeks were numerically superior to the Turks in all the European provinces of the empire, the religious toleration thus granted them, and the protection of life and property they enjoyed, soon reconciled them to prefer the domination of the Sultan to that of any Christian power."

Arnold goes on to explain: "...the treatment of their Christian subjects by the Ottoman emperors-at least for two centuries after their conquest of Greece-exhibits a toleration such as was at that time quite unknown in the rest of Europe. The Calvinists of Hungary and Transylvania, and the Unitarians of the latter country, long preferred to submit to the Turks rather than fall into the hands of the fanatical house of Hapsburg; and the Protestants of Silesia looked with longing eyes towards Turkey, and would gladly have purchased freedom at the price of submission to the Muslim rule...the Cossacks who belonged to the sect of the Old Believers and were persecuted by the Russian State Church, found in the dominions of the Sultan the toleration which their Christian brethren denied them."

In applying the understanding, the following reports consolidate what it means to have a covenant.

During the rule of the second Khaleefah (Caliph) Umar bin al-Khattab, certain Muslims had stolen a piece of land belonging to a Jew and then constructed a mosque upon it. This clearly violated the rights of the Jew who was a dhimmi. Umar (ra) ordered the demolition of the mosque and the restoration of the land to the Jew.

It was related from the Messenger of Allah, that he appointed Abdullah b. Arqam over the Jizya of the people of Zimmah and when he was leaving, he (saw) called him back and said: "Surely, whoever oppresses a person under covenant (Mu'ahid) or imposes upon him more than he can afford and humiliates him or takes anything from him without his consent I will challenge him (i.e. the oppressor) on the day of judgement." [Abu Dawud]

T. W. Arnold, in his book "The Preaching of Islam," states: "When Constantinople was finally opened to the justice of Islam in 1453 Sultan Muhammad II proclaimed himself the protector of the Greek church. Persecution of the Christians was forbidden and a decree issued securing for the newly elected patriarch, Gennadios, and his bishops and successors after him, all the privileges previously enjoyed under the former rule. Gennadios was given the pastoral staff by the Sultan himself. The patriarch was also empowered to bring to the attention of the government and Sultan acts of unjust governors."

Philip Mansel writes in his book 'Constantinople': Rabbi in Turkey writing to his brethren in Europe where they were facing increasing persecution after 1453 -"Here in the land of the Turks we have nothing to complain of. We possess great fortunes; much gold and silver are in our hands. We are not oppressed by heavy taxes and our commerce is free and unhindered. Rich are the fruits of the earth. Everything is cheap and each one of us lives in freedom. Here a Jew is not compelled to wear a yellow star as a badge of shame as is the case in Germany where even wealth and great fortune is a curse for a Jew because he therewith arouses jealousy among the Christians and they devise all kinds of slander against him to rob him of his gold. Arise my brethren, gird up your loins, collect up your forces and come to us."

Another Classical Islamic Scholar Ibn Hazm said, "That one of the rights of the People of Covenant is that if Dar ul Islam is attacked and the People of the Covenant reside in that part of the land then Muslims have to die to defend them. Any leniency in this regard would be leniency in the rights of the People of Dhimma."

In his book, "Kitab Al-Kharaj," the pre-eminent scholar Abu Yusuf gives the following reports: "After getting on peaceful terms with the people of Syria and collecting the dues of the Jizya and the Kharaj, news reached Abu 'Ubeida that the Byzantines had amassed their troops to attack him. The effect of this was great on Abu 'Ubeida and the Muslims. He sent messages to the rulers of cities with whose citizens he had made peace, asking them to return to their subjects the paid dues of the Jizya and Kharaj, with an instruction to tell them: 'We hereby return to you the money you have paid us, because of the news of the enemy troops amassed to attack us, but, if God grants us victory against the enemy, we will keep up to the promise and covenant between us.' When this was delivered to the dhimmis and their money returned to them, they told the Muslims: 'May God bring you back to us and grant you victory over them!'"

In answering specifically the question you have posed, there are two elements to the answer:

Firstly, everybody in the Islamic State, both Muslim and Non-Muslim are obliged to follow the law as covers societal transactions, so in terms of criminal law, societal transactions such as laws regulating economic dealings etc are to be followed by both with those who transgress the law being punished accordingly.

Secondly, despite the fact the state is based solely on Islam, discussion about the origins of life and system for mankind will be encouraged, debates to discuss these subjects will be held. Yet unlike the current Interfaith Dialogue activities these will be aimed at determining the truth about the origins of life and the correct system that man ought to be living by.

I hope this answers your questions.

Please come back for clarification or a discussion about Islam.

[student2k6]

Hi Salman al-Farsi

Many thanks for your reply .I hope you don't mind if in future I put some other questions your way. It has helped to clarify the matter for me.One again, thankyou.

All the best

Mark

PS a very interesting avatar you have. :)

[Umm Layth]

PS a very interesting avatar you have. :)

Very interesting avatar..

is it me? or there is a whirling dervesh in that avatar? lol

[Salman Al-Farsi]

Very interesting avatar..

is it me? or there is a whirling dervesh in that avatar? lol

leave the whirling dervesh alone, took me ages to put him there :D

[Salman Al-Farsi]

Hi Salman al-Farsi

Many thanks for your reply .I hope you don't mind if in future I put some other questions your way. It has helped to clarify the matter for me.One again, thankyou.

All the best

Mark

PS a very interesting avatar you have. :)

Hello Mark

I am glad it was of help. In the future dont hesitate to ask any questions about Islam on the forum. :up:

[Reema]

Salman..You saved the day! :up: :) ;)

[Salman Al-Farsi]

Salman..You saved the day! :up: :) ;)

I am glad it did :)

[dhakiyya]

its very refreshing to see real dawa going on without a hint of rudeness, masha'Allah

[skydog1]

I too have a question and would be grateful for any advice. I have Muslim friends and relatives living in Turkey whom I am going to visit in May (again) My niece who is married to a Turkish lad, has family who live on a smallholding in a traditional Turkish village in the Dalaman area. She tells me they have now killed all the goats and sheep in a recent Islamic festival. Since I am never sure whether or not it is 'polite' to give gifts when I visit them (we usually take meat from the halal butchers when we go to see them and it seems to be appreciated as they are mostly vegetable farmers and rely mainly on local caught fish, some species of tuna, for protein) I was wondering if it would not give offence if I bought them a couple of goats or sheep. I also take a bottle of the local 'raki' which Yusuf, the head of the family, seems to appreciate even more than the meat! He tells me it is known as 'Lions Milk !' The giving of 'presents' doesn't seem to be a big thing amongst the Turks (unless I have missed something of course) though I find them always welcoming and generous to a fault. I also need to know if it would be OK to take a present for an elderly lady who lives nearby and has been a real brick. She even invited me to afternoon tea to meet her family and talk English to her grandkids who study it at school.I understand this is a rare honour, so what could I give a Muslim lady as a gift which wouldn't cause an international incident or be mistaken for a marriage proposal ! Many thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[skydog1]

What ? None of you can give even a piece of the simplest advice re matters Islamic ? I am not trying to undermine you here for God's sake ! Come On ! Help me out here !