Approaching the West — Page 42
A pproaching the West—42 blessings of All ā h be on him. ). It was the same text that later formed the basis of the copies distributed on a large scale by the third Khal ī fah, Ḥ a ḍ rat ‘Uthm ā n bin ‘Aff ā n to every part of the Isl ā mic world. Treatment of Non-Muslims under Isl ā mic Rule In less than thirty years, from the deserts of Arabia, the Muslims reached Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Jerusalem, Egypt, Cyprus, and Tripoli in North Africa; Iran, Afghanistan, and Sindh in India. The powerful Byzantine Empire in the North West and the ancient Persian Empire in the East were defeated by Muslims. One of the standing orders of Khil ā fat was that the conquered people were not to be forcibly converted to Isl ā m. The Holy Qur’ ā n clearly condemns compulsion in religion, and it specifically respects the Scriptures of the Jews and Christians, calling them ahl al- kit ā b, the People of the Book. They, along with Zoroastrians, Hindus and Buddhists, were considered as dhimm ī s (protected subjects). Muslims paid Zak ā t (an annual tax to assist the poor), but the non-Muslim dhimm ī s were exempted to pay Zak ā t. Instead, they paid a poll tax called jizyah. In return, their lives, properties, honor and freedom of religious practice were safeguarded by the Isl ā mic government under the system of Khil ā fat. Dynastic Monarchies The rapid expansion of Isl ā mic domain created many challenges. There were mischief mongers who were busy