Minorities in an Islamic State — Page 56
56 fighting a two-front battle against powerful foes, the forty thousand hostile Christians behind the Muslim lines were no weak threat to their security. Under the circumstances no action which was taken against the Jews and Christians, could by any stretch of imagination, be called unjust. Particularly when it was taken to maintain law and order which is the primary duty of every government and had no bearing on the religious beliefs of the culprit. No government worth the name can permit open challenge and conspiracies under its jurisdiction. The surprising fact is that the action taken against these conspiring Jews and Christians was too mild. On their expulsion from Medina, Ban u Na di r were permitted to remove their possessions including weapons of war. The lands of the Jews of Khaiber were purchased at the existing market rates and they were supplied with means of transport and conveyance. When the Christians of Najr a n were exiled, all expenditure incurred on their movement was borne by the state. The government had issued orders that the local authorities provide them with all amenities at every halt all along the route. They were even permitted to settle in any part of Iraq or Syria and were given free lands. Further, they were given a full two years ’ tax holiday. 65