Treatment of Dhimmis by the Muslims

Before the advent of Islam, the Persian and the Roman empires exercised great influence over the Arabian Peninsula. With the establishment of a strong Muslim government of the Country their influence was bound to decrease. Fearing this, they decided to attack the Muslims and began preparations for the invasion. In these circumstances the Muslims were compelled to take up arms to defend themselves against aggression and advanced against the territories held by the Persians and the Romans.

Those were the dark days of religious and ideological persecution. The poor people of these areas were treated by the Emperors and their officers in an unthinkably cruel and ugly manner. The Jews, the Christians and the man in the street were subjected to all sorts of cruelties by the Persian monarchs. They were robbed of their properties and honour. Protests were quelled by death, torture and extortion. The same was the case with the subjects of the Caesar. The Unorthodox there, were similarly victimized. The lower classes were being bled to death. It was an all round atmosphere of repression. Under the circumstances the freedom of belief, the freedom of conscience and the tolerance shown by the Muslims was bound to create, in the minds of these people, a sense of relief and freedom.

How much these poor people were overwhelmed by the kind treatment of Muslims can be seen by an incident that took place in Hims.

Once, under pressure of the Roman army, the Muslims had to retire from Hims. The Muslims had already collected taxes from the inhabitants of the territory. Before leaving the place, they returned all the taxes which they had realized and declared:

"These taxes were realized on the condition that we would be responsible for your security and for the maintenance of law and order in this area. As we are forced to leave this place, we are no longer in a position to fulfil this condition."

History has recorded the reply of the people of Hims in the following glorious words:

"We were the victims of cruelty and repression at the hands of our co-religionists. Then you people came. Your justice and the way you governed us had won our hearts. Now we will fight shoulder to shoulder with you against the armies of Hercules and he can advance only over our dead bodies."

The Jews went so far as to swear in the name of Torah that they will not let the enemy enter the city. Thus the whole of the population of the area rose against the Romans with the consequence that they were forced to retreat. On their victorious return in the city, the Muslims were accorded a rousing reception by the citizens. They took out processions and sang and danced to express their joy on the triumphant return of the Muslims.1

Again we see that when Hazrat ‘Umar (ra), the second caliph, passed from Adhri‘at on his way to Jerusalem, the Christian inhabitants of the area welcomed him by the blowing of bugles and the beating of drums and by showering flowers on him.

Hazrat ‘Umar (ra) took great care in respecting the sentiments of the Christians and the Jews. Once he enquired of a Christian deputation, if the Muslim officers of their province behaved properly and were just. They replied:

"We have seen nothing of Muslims except good treatment and morals."

The buildings of the Government house and the treasury in Kufah were designed and built by a famous non-Muslim architect named Rozbah. The governor of Kufah was pleased at his performance and sent him to Hazrat ‘Umar (ra) in Medina. Hazrat ‘Umar (ra) received him graciously and ordered that he should be given a generous annuity for the rest of his life.2

Islam’s concern about the protection of the rights of minorities can be judged by the fact that the wills of the Prophet (sas), of Abu Bakr (ra) and of ‘Umar (ra) contained the following injunction.

"Be good to the Dhimmis, be generous and tolerant towards them, and do not let them come to any harm."3