From: rached@blanc.eng.ohio-state.edu (rached)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Non Muslims in an Islamic State
Date: 17 Nov 92 00:13:07 GMT
Article-I.D.: ee.1992Nov17.001307.8885
Organization: The Ohio State University Dept of Electrical Engineering

Hi
Here is a quote from the book "The Lawful and Unlawful in Islam" By
Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi one of the main Faqih's for Muslims nowadays
and one of the Ulema of the Islamic movement in Egypt.

< After Talking about Special considerations for People of the Book >
< In an Islamic State, The author says:                             > 

Non-Muslim Residents of an Islamic State
----------------------------------------

   The above injunctions include all People of the Book wherever they
may be. However, those people who live under the protection of an
Islamic government enjoy special priviliges. They are referred to as "the
Protected People" (Ahl al-dhimmah or dhimmies), meaning that Allah, His
Messenger (peace be on him), and the community of Muslims have made a
covenant with them that they may live in safety and security under the
Islamic government.
   In modern terminology, dhimmies are "citizens" of the Islamic state.
From the earliest period of Islam to the present day, Muslims are in
unanimous agreement that they enjoy the same rights and carry the same
responsibilities as Muslims themselevs, while being free to practice
their own faiths.
   The Prophet (Peace be upon him) emphasized the duties of Muslims
toward dhimmies, threatening anyone who violates them with the wrath and
punishment of Allah. He said,
	"He who hurts a dhimmi hurts me, and he who hurts me
	 annoys Allah."
	 [Reported by Al-Tabarani in Al-awsat on good authority]

	 Whoever hurts a dhimmi, I am his adversary, and I 
	 shall be an adversary to him on the Day of Resurrection.
	 [Reported by Al-Khatib on good Authority]

	 On the Day of Resurrection I shall dispute with anyone
	 who oppresses a person from among the People of the 
	 Covenant, or infringes on his right, or puts a 
	 responsibility on him which is beyond his strength, or
	 takes something from him against his will.
	 [Reported by Abu Daoud]

   The successors of the Prophet, the caliphs, safeguarded these rights
and sanctities of non-Muslim citizens, and the jurists of Islam, in
spite of the variation of their opinions regarding many other matters,
are unanimous in emphasizing these rights and sanctities.
   Says the Maliki jurist, Shaha al-Deen al-Qarafi:
	   The Covenant of protection imposes upon us certain
	   obligations toward the ahl al-dhimmah. They are our neighbors,
	   under our shelter and protection upon the guarantee of Allah, His
	   Messenger (peace be upon him), and the religion of Islam. Whoever
	   violates these obligations against anyone of them by so much as
	   an abusive word, by slandering his reputation, or by doing him
	   some injury or assisting in it, has breached the guarantee of
	   Allah, His Messenger (Peace be upon him), and the religion of
	   Islam.
	   [From the book, Al-furuq, by al-Qarafi]

   And the Zahiri jurist, Ibn Hazm, says:
	   If one is a dhimmi, and the enemy comes with his forces
	   to take him, it is our obligation to fight the enemy with
	   soldiers and weapons and to give our lives for him, thus
	   honoring the guarantee of Allah and His Messenger 
	   (peace be upon him). TO hand him over to the enemy would
	   mean to dishonor this guarantee.
	   [From the book, Maratib al-ijma', by Ibn Hazm

End of Quote.

This is only a summary and if readers are interested I can summarize a
book written by the same sheikh Qaradawi about Non-Muslims in an Islamic
State.


rached
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon