Minorities in an Islamic State — Page 46
46 ‘ Umar. Your armies overpowered us in the battlefield. We, therefore, seek protection under you for ourselves and for our families, for our properties and for our nation. In return, we undertake to abide by the following conditions which we have voluntarily offered out of our own free choice. In our cities or their suburbs, we will build no new church or monastery, nor shall we rebuild the old churches. Similarly, we will not stop Muslims who come from outside from staying in the churches, day or night, their doors shall remain open for them. We shall also consider it our duty to extend to them our hospitality for three days. We shall not permit spies against the Muslims to take refuge in the churches. We shall not permit our children to study the Holy Quran. We shall neither preach nor practice shirk or Bid ‘ at. Nor shall we stop the people from accepting Islam. We shall esteem the Muslims for whom we shall stand up and make room when we receive them in our midst. We shall not imitate the dress the Muslims wear and shall not follow their hairstyle. We shall not speak the Arabic language. Nor shall we permit the use of family names like the Muslims. We shall ride bare- back. We shall not engrave Arabic letters on our