Islam and peace-5

The universality of Islam’s message of peace

 

In an Islamic country, rights have not been granted on the basis of nationality, community or such, but everybody has been granted equal rights on humanitarian basis without any discrimination on the basis of religion, sect and parentage.

 

In an Islamic country, all non-Muslims are given the same rights as Muslims.  There is no scope for discrimination and partiality of any kind.

 

They have the rights of religious freedom, economic freedom, social freedom etc.  To ensure their safety, to maintain an atmosphere of peace for them is the responsibility of Muslims.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

 

Translation: The rights of the non-Muslims are My responsibility.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has warned the Muslim who kills a non-Muslim with whom there was an agreement of peace in this Hadith of Sahih Bukhari:

 

Translation:  Hadhrat Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) narrates from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Whoever kills a non-Muslim with whom there was an agreement of peace will not smell the fragrance of Jannah, even though its fragrance can be smelled from a distance worth 40 years.

 

There is Hadith in Sunan Abu Dawood:

 

Translation:  Beware! The person who oppresses a non-Muslim, with whom there was an agreement of peace, or snatched his/her right or taxed him/her beyond capacity or took something without the non-Muslim’s express wish, then on the Day of Judgment, I will present a case against that oppressor.

 

In an Islamic country, the responsibility of defending the country is not on the non‑Muslims. If there is any attack on the country from outside or within the country someone troubles them, it is the responsibility of the Muslims to protect them and fight on their behalf.  In lieu of this Jizya (a kind of tax) is taken from non-Muslims.  In imposition of this tax, women, children and the old have been exempted.

 

 

It is given in Imam Abu Yousuf’s (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) book “ Al Khiraj.”

 

Translation: Hadhrat Umar’s (May Allah be well pleased with him) slave Hadhrat Aslam (May Allah be well pleased with him) said: Hadhrat Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) wrote to the governors that Jizyah should not be taken from women and children and should be taken from only those men who are majors.

 

Again, it is given in the same book:

 

Translation:  Hadhrat Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) passed by a house where a beggar was begging.  He was very old and blind.  Hadhrat Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) held him by his arm and asked him: What has forced you to this state in which I am seeing you?  He said: I have to pay the Jizyah and I am needy and old.  Then Hadhrat Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) took him by his hand and took him to his own house and gave him something.  Then he sent a message to the treasurer of the public treasury (Bait Ul Maal) that he and such old non-Muslims like him should be taken care of.  “We took Jizyah from him in his young age and left him helpless in his old age, by Allah! We have not done justice.”  Then he (May Allah be well pleased with him) exempted that man and others like him from Jizyah.

 

Jizyah is a tax taken to protect the life, honor and property of non-Muslims; so whenever the Muslims felt that they could not fulfill this responsibility, they returned the amount taken, as done by the commander of the Islamic army, Hadhrat Abu Ubaida (May Allah be well pleased with him) returned the amount of Jizyah to the people of Hims on the occasion of the battle of yarmouk, when the Islamic army had to leave the city for military reasons.  He said: We had accepted responsibility of protecting you, in lieu of this responsibility, you had given us Jizyah.  Now we are unable to fulfill this responsibility, so we return this amount.”

 

This conduct of the Muslims brought tears to the eyes of the inhabitants of Hims and they started praying: May the Lord bring you back safe and sound and give you victory over them.  If the Romans were here, they would not have returned even one dirty dime.”