The Rights of Non-Muslims in Islam (part 5 of 13): The Right to Freedom of
Belief I
 
Islam does not compel people of other faiths to convert.  It has given them
complete freedom to retain their own faith and not to be forced to embrace
Islam.  This freedom is documented in both the Quran and the prophetic teachings
known as Sunnah.  God addresses the Prophet Muhammad in the Quran:
“If it had been your Lord’s will, they would all have believed – all of who are
on earth!  Will you then compel humankind, against their will, to believe?”
(Quran 10:99)
 
Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, would give
people a choice between entering Islam and retaining their religion.  He would
ask them to accept Islam only after making an agreement with them, once they had
become residents in the Islamic state and felt secure about their personal
safety and property.  This allowed them to appreciate the security of the
covenant with God and His Prophet.  It is precisely for this reason that the
non-Muslim citizens are referred to as dhimmis.[1]  When the Prophet of God sent
a commander of an army or a battalion off to war, the Prophet would command him
to be conscious of God in his conduct and to treat his Muslim companions well.
 Then the Prophet of Mercy would instruct him:
“Set out for battle for the sake of God and fight those who disbelieve in Him. 
Go into battle, but do not go to extremes, behave treacherously, mutilate their
dead, or kill children.  When you meet your enemies, the unbelievers, offer them
three options, and accept any one of them to which they agree and cease the
battle:
 
(a)   Invite them to join Islam.  If they agree, then accept this and cease the
battle.  Then invite them to move from their lands to the Land of the Immigrants
(Medina), and inform them that if they do so, they will have the same privileges
and obligations as the other migrants.  If they refuse to migrate from their
lands, inform them that they will have the same status as the nomadic Muslims:
that they will be subject to the Law of God which applies to all Muslims, and
that they do not have a share in wealth obtained from conquest, unless they
participate in the jihad with the Muslims.
 
(b)   If they refuse, then ask them to pay the jizyah,[2]  and if they agree,
then accept it from them and cease the battle.
 
(c)   If they refuse all this, then seek God’s help and battle with them.’”[3]
 
These directives of the Prophet were in obedience to what God says in the Quran:
“Let there be no compulsion in religion; truth stands clear from error: whoever
rejects false gods and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy
hand-hold that never breaks.  And God hears and knows all things.” (Quran 2:256)
 
Edwin Calgary, an American scholar, wrote about this verse, ‘There is a verse in
the Quran that is filled with truth and wisdom, and it is known to all Muslims. 
Everyone else should know it as well; it is the one that says there is no
compulsion in religion.’[4]
 
This verse was revealed concerning some of the residents of Medina.  When none
of the children of the pagan women of Medina survived infancy, they would make a
vow to make the child a Jew or a Christian if he lived.  When Islam came to
Medina, they had adult children who were Jewish or Christian..  The parents
tried to compel them to embrace the new religion, so this verse was revealed to
prevent them from doing so.  The verse and the history of its revelation reveals
that it is not permissible to force anyone to become a Muslim.  This is the case
even if it is the parent who wants the best for their offspring, and their
children become members of another religion.  The Quran rejects forcing anyone
to join Islam.[5]  God says in the Quran:
“Say, ‘The truth is from your Lord,’ let him who will, believe and let him who
will, reject, it.  For the wrongdoers We have prepared a Fire whose (smoke and
flames are) like the wall and roof of a tent, will hem them in: if they implore
relief they will be granted water like molten brass that will scald their
faces.  How dreadful the drink!  How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!”
(Quran 18:29)
 
Not only does Islam give the freedom of religious freedom to non-Muslims, its
tolerant law extends to the preservation of their places of worship.[6]  God
says in the Quran:
“(They are) those who have been evicted from their homes without right — only
because they say, ‘Our Lord is God.’  And was it not that God checks the people,
some by means of others, there would have been demolished  monasteries,
churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of God is much mentioned
(praised).  And God will surely support those who support Him (meaning His
cause).  Indeed, God is Powerful and Exalted in Might.” (Quran 22:40)
 
The Muslim caliphs used to order their military leaders who went on military
campaigns to take steps to guarantee this matter.  The first example is the
command of Abu Bakr to Usamah bin Zayd:
‘I command you to do ten things: kill no woman, no child, nor an elderly person;
do not cut down fruit trees, or vandalize homes, or wound a sheep or camel
except if you must eat it; do not drown a palm tree, or burn it, do not be
treacherous; do not be cowardly; and you will pass by people who have devoted
themselves to monastery life; leave them alone to their devotions.’[7]
 
The second example is the treaty of Umar ibn al-Khattab with the people of Iliya
of Jerusalem:
‘This is the security given by the slave of God, Umar, the Commander of the
Faithful, to the people of Iliya: they are guaranteed the security if their
persons, possessions, churches, crucifixes, and everyone within, whether sick or
in good health, as well as everyone in their community.  Their churches will not
be occupied or demolished, nor will anything be taken from them: neither
furnishings nor crucifixes or money.  They will not be forced away from their
religion, or harmed because of it.  They will not be occupied by the Jewish
settlers in Iliya.’[8]
 
As a result, since the era of the rightly-guided caliphs, Jews and Christians
have held their services in freedom and security.[9]





Footnotes:

[1] Zuhaili, Wahba, ‘al-Islam wa Ghayr al-Muslimeen,’ p. 60-61


[2] Jizya: a protection tax payable by non-Muslims as a tribute to the Muslim
ruler.

[3] Saheeh Muslim

[4] Quoted in Young, Quailar, ‘The Near East: Society & Culture,’ p. 163-164

[5] Qaradawi, Yusuf, ‘Ghayr al-Muslimeen fil-Mujtama’ al-Islami,’ p. 18-19

[6] Aayed, Saleh Hussain, ‘Huquq Ghayr al-Muslimeen fi Bilad il-Islam,’ p. 23-24

[7] Tabari, Tarirk al-Tabari, vol 3, p. 210

[8] Tabari, Tarirk al-Tabari, vol 3, p. 159

[9] Qaradawi, Yusuf, ‘al-Aqaliyyat ad-Diniyya wa-Hal al-Islami,’ p. 13

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