Muhammad and The Jews — Page 47
THE PEOPLE OF THE $al. zlfah freedom of religion and all groups will be autonomous. 1 3. Non-Muslims and Muslims will take up arms against the enemy of the ummah and will share the cost of war. Muslims and non-Muslims are sincere friends with honourable dealings and no treachery. 2 4. Non-Muslims will not be obliged to take part in the religious wars of the Muslims. 3 The !jal;ifah is a clear indication of the lines on which the Apostle was building the ummah. It was a multi-religious community. Its basis was neither territorial nor tribal. Article 20 of the !jal;ifah implies the exclusion of idolators (mushrikun) from the ummah and since the !jal;ifah included the Jews of Yathrib in the ummah it appears that only a belief in the Unity of God was essential for the membership of the ummah. There were no Christians in Medina, so they did not join the ummah. But in 9/630 when a deputation of Christians under the leadership of "'Abdul-Masil;t "'Aqib, al-Ayham and Bishop Abil l;liiritha b. "'Alqama visited Medina the Apostle invited the Christians to join him on the basis of the unity of God. 4 He said : 0 People of the Book ! Come to a word equal between us and you that we worship none but Allah, and that we as,mciate no partner with him, and that some of us take not others for Lords beside Allah. 5 It is significant that this invitation was extended to them after they had declined the Apostle's offer to accept Islam. 6 The Qur?ii. nic 1 "The Jews of Banii "'Awf are an ummah along with the believers. To the Jews their din and to the Muslims their din. This applies both to them and their clients, except for him who is guilty of oppression, or treachery; he brings evil only on himself and members of his house" (Article 25, Articles 26 to 35 are similar). 2 "It is for the Jews to bear their expenses and for the Muslims to bear their expenses. Between them there will be help against those who fight against the people of the fjabifah. Between them is sincere friendship and honourable dealing, not treachery, no one shall violate the pledge of his ally and there is help for the person wronged" (Article 37). 3 "And if they (the Jews) are invited to a peace to participate in and to adhere to it, they shall participate in it and adhere to it, and if they invite likewise, the same shall be incumbent upon the believers in their favour, except whoever goes to war in the cause of religion" (Article 45). 4 Ibn Hisharn, pp. 401-411. 5 The Qur~an, Alc. Imran, 64. 6 Ibn Hisharn, p. 411. 47