Minorities in an Islamic State — Page 7
7 his Prophet would be responsible to safeguard their interests. He granted to the non-Muslims all the rights that the Muslims enjoyed. Their lives, properties and honour were made as sacred and inviolable as those of the Muslims. 3 Dhamma is an Arabic word from which the word Dhimm i is derived, which means one who is granted every kind of protection and safety. It is clear from what has been said above that according to the Islamic law the Muslims and the non-Muslims stand on an equal footing in matters of fundamental human rights. No distinction was ever made between the rights of Muslims and non- Muslims. This Charter of freedom granted by the Holy Prophet sa was well expressed by Hadrat ‘ Al i ra when he said: " Dhimm i s have agreed to pay Jizyah for the reason that their lives may be treated as the lives of Muslims and their properties as the properties of the Muslims. Therefore, in these matters, there is no distinction between the rights of the Muslims and Dhimm i s ". 4 Again we see that the pact concluded between Hadrat ‘ Umar ra and inhabitants of Jurj a n ran thus. "The lives, properties, communal life, identity and the religion of the population of Jurj a n shall