Minorities in an Islamic State — Page 43
43 Differences of religion, nationality and race were not even thought of Christians, Jew, Sabians, Sumarians, Majosites, all were equally favoured and respected by the caliphs. The non-Muslims enjoyed the same rights to freedom and status as did the Muslim nobles and high officials. " 51 Again when the repeated violation of treaties and border trespasses by the Roman Qaiser ’ s armies had taxed caliph Haroon ’ s patience to its limits, one day he angrily demanded the chief justice Imam Ab u Y u suf as to why in spite of all these violations the Christians remained safe under the Muslims and who allowed them to take out open processions of Cross in the cities. At this Imam Ab u Y u suf with great courage and calmness replied: "When these countries were conquered in the days of Hadrat ‘ Umar ra , (the second Khalifah of the Holy Prophet sa ) it was guaranteed to the Christians that their churches will remain inviolate and that they shall have full freedom to religious observances and take out processions of cross openly. Therefore no one has the right to cancel this order which relates to basic human rights". 52 Similarly writing about the Muslim rule in Spain the author of the History of Spain, Louis Bertrand, says: "The Christians were left masters of it. They retained their estates, together with timber,