Hazrat Umer (RA) & Rights Of The Dhimmis (nonmuslims In Muslim State)
So then isn’t it wrong to reclaim Hagia Sofia as a mosque? I don’t think Hazrat Umer would have done that given the controversy it has created with the Christians today. At least I haven’t come across a case when he built mosque over a church.
Driving religious principles from history is a very hard thing to do. In this information age, if you ask someone why did US attack Iraq. You will get so many different answers based on the part of the world and what media people are consuming. It will require a lot wisdom and objectivity to come to a real answer. If that is the case for the history that is happening in front of our own eyes in this information age, then imagine for events that happened 1400 years ago. Therefore I believe that principles of the rights of non-muslims should be driven from Quran and Sunnah and not the history. Quran is clear (see few verses below) that when it comes to religion, it should be free will and there should be exchange of ideas for people to figure out what is the truth and whatever they consider to be the truth, they should be allowed to practice it. If we agree on this principle, then off course non-muslims can build their places of worship in muslim lands. وَلَوْ شَاء رَبُّكَ لآمَنَ مَن فِي الأَرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ جَمِيعًا أَفَأَنتَ تُكْرِهُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَكُونُواْ مُؤْمِنِينَ 10-99 Had your Lord willed, all those on earth would have believed altogether. Would you, then, compel people, so that they become believers? عَلَيْهِم بِوَكِيلٍ وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ مَا أَشْرَكُواْ وَمَا جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا وَمَا أَنتَ 6-107 If Allah willed, they would not have associated. We have not appointed you as a guard over them, nor are you a taskmaster for them. لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطر, إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّى وَكَفَر, فَيُعَذِّبُهُ اللَّهُ الْعَذَابَ الْأَكْبَرَ 88-22,23, 24 You are not a taskmaster set up over them, but whoever turns away and disbelieves, Allah will punish him with the greatest torment. لاَ إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ 2-256 There is no compulsion in Faith Allah knows best.