The rights of non-Muslims according to Islam

The rights of non-Muslims according to Islam

As Salamu Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh (Allah’s Peace, his Mercy and Blessings be upon you)

Without any shadow of doubt It is a fact that the most misunderstood religion on the face of this earth today is Islam. The reason being that propagandists and even some unaware/ignorant Muslims who do not understand Islam itself have given fuel to bigotry against this beautiful faith. I am making this thread on rights which Islam gives to non-Muslims because currently this world is going through a very delicate phase as was already told by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) that during the end of time there will be a lot of killing and the Killer would not know why he killed and the one who got killed would not know why he was killed [Sahih Bukhari], plus Ignorance has spread on wide scale and the biggest tool of ignorance is “Generalization” i.e. if some Muslim commits a crime then not only that person is to be blamed but rather all Muslims and Islam is to be attacked, many times certain terrorist activates are “created” to give justification to wide scale acts of terrorism in return, take an example of September 11 after which a full fledge war of terrorism (not “ON” terrorism) was imposed upon Afghanistan, Iraq and now Iran and Pakistan have become prime targets (with American attacks already taking place within Pakistani territories).

Recently Mumbai has been attacked, we are all aware of aftermath which takes place after such incidents. We are all aware of genocide which took place in Gujrat India, where many Muslims were “LITERALLY BURNT ALIVE” including children and women. I was witness of Indian Media back then and so am I a witness today of what has happened in Mumbai, the latter is not even comparable to the Barbarism in Gujrat but due to this attack on Mumbai I see another Gujrat in its making. The aftermath is usually ignored because the targets happen to be minorities like Sikhs were when Indra Gandhi was killed, recently Christians have been struck too..

What Quran says about World harmony!
...The Muslims on the other hand are declared as terrorists by default in order to carry out the long term and wide scale terrorism upon them, I do not consider Muslims as infallible either, there are “Ignorant” Muslims also who give fuel to the propaganda against their own religion by committing crimes which Islam never allowed them at first place.
Let us now see what Islam says about rights of non-Muslims.
Quran states: O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you”INTO NATIONS AND TRIBES” that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the ”MOST RIGHTEOUS OF YOU” . And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). [49:13]

Quran states: Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in God hath grasped the most trustworthy hand- hold, that never breaks. And God heareth and knoweth all things. (2:256)

This verse proves that If any Muslim kills another person in the name of Islam then he is a liar because Quran forbids compelling others into faith at first place.
There is a whole Surah in Quran with the name of Al-Kafiroon (i.e. the disbelievers), some would assume straightaway that this Surah would have direct orders of killing all disbelievers at sight, but to their amazement let’s see what the Surah actually states
109.001 PICKTHAL Say: O disbelievers!
109.002 PICKTHAL I worship not that which ye worship;
109.003 PICKTHAL Nor worship ye that which I worship.
109.004 PICKTHAL And I shall not worship that which ye worship.
109.005 PICKTHAL Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
109.006 PICKTHAL Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion. 
The importance given to minorities in Islam
Some would argue by taking Quranic ayahs out of context like many propagandists do that Quran advises in 2:191 to kill disbelievers wherever you find them although they know themselves that they are misquoting the ayah itself plus also ignoring 1 ayah before and 2 ayahs afterwards which prove the context to be regarding Battlefield only plus fighting was permitted against those disbelievers who had broken the treaties, initiated the fight, driven Muslims out of their own homeland etc…

The amount of importance and respect given to minorities in Islam is unimaginable when we read these following words of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), these words are so strong that If Muslims do not follow them then there is a chance of them having total loss in their own faith.

The Prophet said: Beware! Whosoever oppresses a Muahid (i.e. one living in Muslim land with agreement) or snatches (any of) his rights or causes him pain which he cannot bear, or takes anything from him without his permission, Then “I WILL FIGHT AGAINST SUCH A (MUSLIM) ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT” [Sunnan Abu Dawud, Volume No. 3, Page No. 170, Hadith No. 3052]

I.e. the Prophet (salallaho alaihi wasalam) will be a lawyer against such a Muslim and no Muslim should expect to win the case when the lawyer will be Muhammad (salallaho alaihi wasalam).

This is not just an advice but “LAW” in Islamic Jurisprudence.

In another hadith the Prophet (salallaho alaihi wasalam) is more explicit, he said: If any Muslim killed a Muahid (i.e. non-Muslim living in Muslim land with agreement) then he (muslim) shall not even smell the fragrance of Paradise although the fragrance of Paradise would have been perceived from the distance of travelling for 40 years [Sahih Bukhari, Volume No. 3, Hadith # 2995] 
The greatest example of forgivness!
Once a delegation of Christians comprising of 14 members came to Madina. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) made them stay in his mosque (i.e. Masjid an Nabwi) and he gave them permission to perform their worship in their own manner inside his Mosque. [Imam Ibn Sa’d in his Tabaqat al Kubra, Volume No. 1, Page No. 357]

The polytheists of Makkah had oppressed the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and his companions continuously till the time he and his companions remained expelled from their own land Makkah, however when Muslims won their freedom and went back to their home Land after a long and treacherous exile, a commander from Muslims exclaimed loudly: Today is a day of revenge (fight), at this the Prophet (Peace be upon him) became angry and said: Today is the day of open forgiveness, then he asked his enemies: How should I treat you today? They replied: We expect you to treat us Just like Prophet Joseph treated his wrongdoing brothers, the Prophet said in reply the same sentence which Joseph had said to his brothers: There is no questioning from you today and you are all free [Imam al-Asqalani, Fath ul Bari, Volume No. 8, Page No. 18]

The biggest enemy of Muslims at that time was Abu Sufyan, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: Whosoever takes shelter in “ABU SUFYAN’S HOUSE” is safe [Sahih Muslim, Volume No. 3, Hadith # 1780]

Abu Lahab against whom a whole Surah has been revealed in Quran, his two sons who used to cause a lot of pain to Prophet (Peace be upon him), they after conquest of Makkah took shelter behind curtains of Kaaba, the Prophet himself brought them out and forgave them [Imam Zayli, Nasb ar Raiya 3:336]

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: To protect the rights (of non-Muslims) is amongst the primary duties of mine [Sunnan Baihaqi, Volume No. 8, Page No. 30] 
The ongoing tradition of Prophet!
Once a governor of Egypt punished a non-Muslim wrongly, the case was brought to caliph of time i.e. Umar ibn ul Khattab (i.e. the second caliph of Islam), the Muslim governor was proven to be wrong, Hadrat Umar (ra) asked the same non Muslim to punish the Egyptian governor in same fashion, after it Umar (ra) said: Since when have you considered people as your slaves? Although their mothers gave birth to them as free living people [Kaznz ul Amaal, Volume No. 4, Page No. 455]

Quran states the ethics with which people could be invited towards Islam: Call unto the way of thy Lord with “Wisdom and fair exhortation” and reason with them in the “BETTER WAY”. Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who go aright. (16:125)

The decision of guidance or misguidance of someone is to be attributed to Allah as authority over it is only in his hands, even Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was told by Allah (sometimes strictly) that his duty was only to convey the message.
Quran states: If it had been thy Lord's will, they would all have believed,- all who are on earth! wilt thou then compel mankind, against their will, to believe?(10:99)

The Prophet (Salallaho alaihi wasalam) said: Najran (i.e. Christian land) and its leaders are assured the security from Allah and his Apostle. Their lives, their legislation, land, wealth, near and far away people, their worship places will be protected. No priest from his religious post, no officer of his official post will not be removed [Tabaqat Ibn Saad, Volume No. 1 Page No. 228]

As Muslims have to give “OBLIGATORY CHARITY” similarly the non-Muslims living in Muslim lands had to give Jiziya Tax, however Islam does not put this condition upon “POOR, OLD AND INCAPABLE” non Muslims. 
Deal kindly with all those who do not fight you!
It states in one of the leading book of Islamic Jurisprudence: If they are poor, old or suffering (from financial or physical ailments) to the extent that people from their own faith start giving them charity then the Law of Jiziya will be “LIFTED” from them and from Bayt ul Maal (Muslim house of wealth i.e. a bank) they will be helped instead but till the time they live in the Muslim land [Imam Abu Yusuf, Kitab al-Khiraaj, Page No. 155]

Quran states: Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just. (60:8)

Quran states: Surely Allah enjoins the doing of justice and the doing of good (to others) and the giving to the kindred, and He forbids indecency and evil and rebellion; He admonishes you that you may be mindful(16:90)
Quran takes care of rights of disbelievers to the extent that it states: Revile not those unto whom they pray beside Allah lest they wrongfully revile Allah through ignorance. Thus unto every nation have We made their deed seem fair. Then unto their Lord is their return, and He will tell them what they used to do.(Quran, 6:108)

Although we firmly believe in oneness of Allah still we have no right to mock the idols!  

Islam orders to make things easy for people
Volume 1, Book 3, Number 69: (Sahih Bukhari)

Narrated Anas bin Malik:The Prophet said, "Facilitate things to people (concerning religious matters), and do not make it hard for them and give them good tidings and do not make them run away (from Islam)."
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: Beware! Whosoever oppresses a Muahid (i.e. Non-Muslim living in Muslim land with agreement) or snatches (any of) his rights or causes him pain which he cannot bear, or takes anything from him without his permission, Then “I (THE PROPHET) WILL FIGHT AGAINST SUCH A (MUSLIM) ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT” [Sunnan Abu Dawud, Volume No. 3, Page No. 170, Hadith No. 3052]

la ilaha illallah muhammadur rasulullah

Allah(God) is Great !

And Muhammad is his Messenger (Peace and Blessings be upon him)  


 

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