Non-Muslims` rights

By Syed Imad-ud-Din Asad
Friday, 25 Feb, 2011


TO many westerners, Islamic law often seems problematic and puzzling. One of the main reasons for this is the variety of contradictory approaches in different Muslim countries regarding the nature of government, fundamental rights, rule of law, rights of non-Muslims, the concept of the welfare state, etc.

Various Muslim regimes, in order to maintain their hold on power, often enact laws and take measures that are inconsistent not only with the western notions of equity and justice, but, more importantly, with provisions given in the basic Islamic texts. Similarly, certain Muslim scholars, trying to gain quick popularity among ignorant Muslim masses in order to further their selfish political ambitions, often make statements that are contrary to Islamic values, as may be ascertained from the Quran and the Sunnah, the two primary sources of Islamic law.

All these factors create a negative image of Islam as people generally make an estimate of an ideology by looking at the behaviour of its adherents.

The status of non-Muslims in Islamic law is a frequently discussed topic. It is a general perception in the West that non-Muslims are second-rate citizens in an Islamic state. However, if we look at the Quran and the Sunnah, we find a different story. In the early and medieval Islamic state, except for the right to political equality, non-Muslims had the same rights as Muslims. Their life, respect and property were as sacred as those of their Muslim counterparts.

Non-Muslims living in an Islamic state were called ‘Dhimmis’. The word ‘dhimmah’ means ‘pledge’ or ‘guarantee’. ‘Dhimmi’, contrary to the prevalent misconception, is not a derogatory term; it signifies that these people were under the protection guaranteed by Allah and His Prophet (PBUH).

There are numerous sayings of the Prophet emphasising that non-Muslim citizens must be treated well and their rights must be protected by the state as well as Muslim members of the community. He once said, “Whoever hurts a Dhimmi, hurts me. And whoever hurts me, he annoys Allah.” (Bukhari) Similarly, “Beware! On the Day of Judgment, I shall myself be the complainant against one who wrongs a Dhimmi….” (Al-Mawardi)

Al-Qarafi, the Islamic scholar, while commenting on the responsibility of the Islamic state to Dhimmis said, “It is the responsibility of the Muslims to the people of the Dhimmah to care for their weak, fulfil the needs of the poor, feed the hungry, provide clothes, address them politely and even tolerate their harm…. 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 violate their rights.”

At this point, it would be apt to discuss the controversial issue of jizyah. Zakat is a tax collected from Muslim citizens; jizyah was the tax collected from adult, male, non-Muslim citizens. The payment of jizyah entitled non-Muslims to state support and protection, and exemption from military service. If a non-Muslim voluntarily fought for the Islamic state, he was exempt from it. Most importantly, if non-Muslims were unable to pay jizyah, the state still looked after them and protected them just like Muslim citizens.

Thus, jizyah was only a tax and not meant to humiliate non-Muslims. If Muslim citizens paid zakat to the state, there was no harm in collecting jizyah from non-Muslim citizens. Do modern western states not impose taxes on their citizens? They do.

Similarly, lack of political equality between Muslims and non-Muslims is viewed as a huge deficiency in Islamic law by westerners. The fact is that a state based on a particular ideology, like Islam, should be governed by people who adhere to it. In other words, owing to its ideological nature, a non-Muslim cannot become the head of an Islamic state.

Simply speaking, religion and ideology are not that different from each other. Therefore, the requirement of allegiance to Islam is the same as the requirement that an American, in order to hold a public office, undertake an oath to a fundamentally bourgeois constitution. Just as the Sharia signifies certain values, the constitution of the US signifies certain values.

Unlike other beliefs and systems, Islam cannot be accused of conducting forced conversions, witch hunts, inquisitions and holocausts. In fact, Muslim territories often served as a refuge for non-Muslims facing oppression and persecution in other places. Spain, under Muslim rule, was the only place in Europe where Jews could live with safety and dignity. After the fall of Muslim Spain, Jews were expelled from there and they found a sanctuary in another Muslim realm, i.e., the Ottoman Empire.

Muslim India was another example. Despite centuries of Muslim rule, the majority of its population remained non-Muslim. It is a well-known fact that Muslim rulers even made generous donations to temples and other religious places of Hindus and others. It is also interesting to note that, according to Al-Maqrizi, all the famous churches of Cairo were built during Muslim rule. Considering all these historical facts, the destruction of two statues of the Buddha in Afghanistan, in 2001 by the Taliban government was totally un-Islamic. They did not act in accordance with Islam; it was a deplorable attempt to further their own political interests by manipulating the religious emotions of their ignorant Muslim population.

It is important not to confuse such despicable actions with Islamic values. For instance, if a Jew kills a man, it would be outrageous to say that Judaism makes murderers. Similarly, it would be utterly incorrect to say that the Spanish Inquisition was conducted because the Gospel instructed so.

List Of The Topics Posted On This Thread

1. Zakat
2. Fasting
3. Prayer
4. The Day Of Judgement
5. Belief In Risalat
6. Tauheed
7. Jihad
8. Sharia Law
9. Ijtihad
10. Rights Of Minorities (Posted By Agha Zuhaib)
11. Islamic Social System
12. Judicial System Of Islam
13. Political System Of Islam
14. Rights Of The Citizens In Islamic State (Posted By Syeda Sabaht)
15. Purdah In Islam
16. Charity And Alms Giving (Posted By Syeda Sabaht)
17. Importance Of Hajj (Posted By Syeda Sabahat)
18. Women In Islam
19. Polygamy In Islam
20. Human Rights In Islam
21. Non-Muslims’ Rights In Islam

ZAKAT

• While defining Zakat, examine its Socio-Economic significance in Islamic Society. (2002)

• Islam pays a lot of stress on the circulation of money. Describe in the light of Zakat system. (2008)

• In Islam the purpose of Zakat is purity of wealth, abolishing poverty, hunger and ignorance but his has not been achieved yet. What pratical steps are needed for attaining this end?(2009)

Above is the list of the repeated questions regarding the topic zakat in different years and from different angles..

Here is my outline Keeping all the three questions in veiw:


ZAKAT

• Definition

• Importance Of Zakat In The Light Of Quran And Hadith

• Kinds Of Property On Which Zakat Is Obligatory

• Recipient Of Zakat

• Persons Who Cannot Be Given Zakat

• Virtue Of Zakat

• Punishment For Not Giving Zakat

• Benefits Of Zakat
i) Purification of Soul
ii) Purification of Wealth
iii) Creates Love in Human beings
iv) Solution for Unemployment
v) Solution for Unequal Distribution of Wealth
vi) Wide Circulation of Wealth
vii) Elimination of Poverty
viii) Treasury of Islam
ix) Insurance Company of Muslims
x) Reduction in Crimes
xi) Solution for Depression
xii) Wide Circulation of Wealth

• Social Impact Of Zakat

• Economic Impact Of Zakat

• Islam Concerns for The Poor-Zakat And Poverty Alleviation

• Restabilising The Institute Of Zakat OR Steps To Achieve The Purpose Of Zakat

• Conclusion

Dear Syeda Sabahat rectify the mistakes in outline if any and also simplify it according to the requirement of the question in different years like from above outilne wat points wud be appropriate to add in the question asked in 2002, then in 2008 and lastly in 2009.....waiting for reply...Regards

FASTING

• Describe the importance and philosophy of FASTING (SAUM) also explain its individual and collective benefits. (99)

• Define the doctrine of "Roza" and explain how to achieve the goals of mutual co-operation and collective justice besides the purification of individual soul through the application of this doctrine. (2007)


Fasting/Saum/Roza

Outline:

• Definition Of Fasting

• Significance Of Fasting

• Individual Benefits
i) Spiritual Benefits
ii) Physical Benefits
iii) Moral Benefits
• Taqwa In Ramazan

• Collective Benefits
i) Social Benefits
ii) Economic Benefits

• Conclusion

ZAKAT

• concept of zakat

• Importance Of Zakat In The Light Of Quran And Hadith

Benefits Of Zakat
i) Purification of Soul
ii) Purification of Wealth
iii) Creates Love in Human beings
iv) Solution for Unemployment
v) Solution for Unequal Distribution of Wealth
vi) Wide Circulation of Wealth
vii) Elimination of Poverty
viii) Treasury of Islam
ix) Insurance Company of Muslims
x) Reduction in Crimes
xi) Solution for Depression
xii) Wide Circulation of Wealth


• Kinds Of Property On Which Zakat Is Obligatory

• Recipient Of Zakat

• Persons Who Cannot Be Given Zakat

• Virtue Of Zakat

• Punishment For Not Giving Zakat

•
• Social Impact Of Zakat

• Economic Impact Of Zakat

• Islam Concerns for The Poor-Zakat And Poverty Alleviation

• Restabilising The Institute Of Zakat OR Steps To Achieve The Purpose Of Zakat

• Conclusion

i think this should be the sequence, on the whole a good attempt i have already qualified css, thats why kuch idea to zaroor hai

best of luck

__________________
love to live, live to love, thats how my interests are developed.

AKHIRAT

• Why the faith on the ‘Day of Judgment’ is necessary? How it affects the Human life? (1999)

• Explain with arguments the Self-Reformation (Islam-e-Nafs) and construction of moral according to the need and importance of the faith of the Day of Judgment (Akhirat) (2003)

• Describe the importance of the concept of the “Day of Judgment” and explain the practical results of this notion of the Private and Public life of the people. (2008)



The Day Of Judgement

Outline:

• Meaning Of The Judgement Day
• Day Of Judgement In Different Religions:
• Islamic Concept Of Life Hereafter
• Signs Of The Day Of Resurrection
• The Effects Of The Belief In Resurrection On The Life Of Man:
• How the day of the judgement in Islam is a concept of accountability and justice?
• Importance Of This Faith

no roshan mere university open ho gai ha mujhe sirf sunday ka time milta ha reply kerne k lea aj off ha to socha reply ker doon.


now come to answer hmmmm.. i think answer would be like this

*meaning of akhirat

*its concept in islam

*concept of akhirat in other religions.

*its proofs in quran like surah taha ayat no:55, surah yaseen ayat no:78-79,surah sajdah ayat no:20.

*why its important to believe on the day of judgement?

*what would be the result if we will not believe on this day?

1)man become irresponsible
2)he would have more love for this world.
3)narrow thinking/prejudiced
4)dislyoal to others
5)all his amaal would be ruined.
and e.t.c

*its effects on indiviual life
*collective benifits.

this is a complete outline for all questions roshan.and remember dear try to write short headings and use synonymes instead of long words.

regards sabahat.

__________________
GEO to aise k sab tumhara ha,MARO to aisa jaise tmhara kuch bhi nhi.

Maza deti han zindagi ki thokerin unko,jinhen NAAM-E-KHUDA le kar sanbhal janey ki adat ho.

PRAYER

• Define the philosophy of Salaat and explain its importance in the light of Quran and Sunnah. Also state its impact on the life of an individual and community.(97)

• Describe the importance and philosophy of prayer. Also explain its individual and collective benefits. (2000)




Prayer/Salaat/Namaz;

Outline:

• Introduction/Philosophy Of Salaat
• Importance Of Salaat In The Light Of The Quran And Hadith
• Benefits Of Salaat
a) Individual Benefits
b) Collective Benefits
i) Social Organization And Social Discipline
ii) Mosque As Community Centre
iii) Mutual Cooperation And Help
iv) Equality And Brotherhood
v) Training In Jihad (Holy War)
vi) Respect For The Rights Of Others
vii) Tolerance
viii) Unity
•Conclusion

good roshan.don`t worry dear ma jab tak zinda hun late he sahi per ma pani her post ka reply zaroor karun gi.

duaon ma yad rakhea ga.

regards sabahat.

__________________
GEO to aise k sab tumhara ha,MARO to aisa jaise tmhara kuch bhi nhi.

Maza deti han zindagi ki thokerin unko,jinhen NAAM-E-KHUDA le kar sanbhal janey ki adat ho.

TAUHEED

• Define Tauheed (Unity of Allah) in a scholarly manner describing its significance and effects on human life. (2001)

• Explain the belief of Tauheed in scholarly manner describing its effect on human life. (2004)

• Identify the importance of the concept of "Towheed" and explain the practical results of this principle on the private as well as public aspects of the human life. (2007)




Tauheed

Outline:

• Definition
• Significance Of Tauheed
• Effects Of Tauheed
i) Width Of Vision
ii) Self-respect
iii) Modesty And Humbleness
iv) Virtuous And Upright
v) Satisfaction Of Heart
vi) Determination
vii) Peace And Contentment
viii) Obedience
• Conclusion