1slamRel igi on of Int ole ran ceThe dhimma (VERY IMPORTANT)
the Qur'an calls Jews and Christians "People of the Book," Islamic lawcalls
themdhim mis,which means "prot ected " or "guil ty" peopl e—the Arabic
word means both. They are "prote cted" becaus e. as People of theBook. they
have recei ved genui ne revel ation s ("the Book" ) from Allah andthus differ in
status from out-and-out pagans and idolater s like Hindusand Buddhists.
(Historically, the latter two groups have been treated even worse by Isla mic
Conqu erors , altho ugh as apract ical matte r their Muslim masters ultimately
awarded them dhimmi status.)
Jews and Christians are "guilty" because they have not only rejected
Muhammad as a prophet, but have also distorted thelegitimate revelations they
received from Allah. Because of that guilt, Islamic law dictates that Jewsand
Christians may live in Islamic states, but not as equals with Muslims, One
Musl im juri st expl aine d that the cali ph must "mak e jiha d agai nst thos ewho
resist Islam after having been called to it until they submit or accept to live asa
protected dhimmi-community—so that Allah's rights. may Hebeexalted, 'be
made. uppermost above all [other] religion' (Qur'an9:33."'
While Jews. Christians. and othernon-Muslims areallowed to practice
theirreligio ns, they must do so under severelyrestric tive conditionsthat
remind them of their second-class status at every turn.
This lower status was first articulated by Umar ibn al-Khattab, who was
caliph from634 to 644. According to the Qur'anic commentary of Ibn Kathir,
the Christians making,this pact with Umar pledged:
Wemadeacondition on ourselves that we will neither erect inour areas a
monastery, church, or a sanctuary for a monk, norrestore any place of worship
that needs restorati on nor use anyofthem [or the purpose of enmity against
Muslims.'
This, of cours e, allow ed Isla mic autho riti es to seize chur ches when ever
they wanted. Since testimony of Christians was discounted and