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Encyclopedia :
D :
DH :
DHI :
Dhimmi |
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DhimmiA Dhimmi, or Zimmi (Arabic ذمّي), as defined in classical Islamic legal and political literature, is a person living in a Muslim state who is a member of an officially tolerated non-Muslim religion. The term literally means "protected person." In both legal theory and practice, dhimmis have fewer legal rights than Muslims. In many places and time dhimmis were treated as second-class citizens.EtymologyThe root of "dhimmi" comes from the Arabic root "dh-m-m", where "dhimma" means "being in the care of". BackgroundThe term initially applied to "People of the Book" living in lands under Muslim rule, namely Jews and Christians. Over time Muslims extended this category to Zoroastrians, Mandeans, and Sikhs. Many, but not all, extend this to Hindus. Its origin is traced to a pact drawn up by the second Caliph of Islam Umar ibn al-Khattab to deal with non-muslims still living on land conquered by Muslims.Pact of Umar In the Middle Ages, the dhimmi concept was comparatively tolerant by the standards of the time. Christians and Jews were allowed to live in peace within the Muslim society, on the condition (also required of Muslim subjects) of submission to their rulers. An example is the Muslim state of Cordoba in Southern Spain where Christians and Jews prospered. Maimonides, by some considered the greatest Jewish philosopher and Talmudic sage, lived in Muslim Spain, North Africa and Egypt. As late as the 16th century, religious tolerance in Europe was greatest within the Ottoman Empire. Modern vs. customary practiceThe attitude towards dhimmis varies from Muslim to Muslim. The religious and legal views of this issue have historically been a practical issue, and not theoretical at all. Dhimmitude still is legally important in Iran and Saudi Arabia, and until recently was important in taliban controlled Afghanistan. Those in the Islamist movement are working to make Islamic law, including dhimmitude, applicable in all Muslim nations. In recent years, dhimmitude has become a theoretical issue for many Muslim nations. Very few Islamic nations now have any legally defined special status for dhimmis. Muslims living in less conservative or more multiconfessional nations typically present the dhimmi as being equal to Muslims. For example, one book published in Pakistan claims:
Rights: Exemptions: Obligations: Other points: Dhimmis were sometimes subject to other restrictions. Each of the following were forbidden to dhimmis at some point somewhere in the world: Dhimmis in Islam vs. minorities in non-Muslim societiesIt is interesting to compare dhimmi status in Muslim societies with other laws and restrictions imposed on minorities in non-Muslim societies in the medieval period. Severe and harsh restrictions were imposed on Jews in Europe before Islam came to Spain. The Visigothic Code (or Forum Judicum), has an entire book dedicated to laws concerning Jews, with severe restrictions, and often one-sided laws. King Ervigius additions to the code are even more restrictive. It forced Jews not to prevent their children from baptism, prohibited them from celebrating Passover, undergoing circumcision, marriage of relatives, observing dietary laws, reading books that the Christian faith rejects, testifying against Christians, as well as forbidding Christians from defending or protecting Jews, and forcing Jews to abstain from labor on Sundays and Christian holidays. Dress code and other restrictions were forced by Christians on Jews, as well as Muslims in Europe. In Spain it was enforced, and penalties were levied if mudejars did not observe it. As early as 1215 the Fourth Council of the Lateran under Pope Innocent III issued a decree that Muslims and Jews shall wear a special dress to distinguish them from Christians. This concept is thus common to medieval Christendom and Islam. It is even more interesting to compare dhimmis status in Muslim societies with other laws and restrictions imposed on minorities in non-Muslim societies in the modern period. While Europe has repealed all of the restrictive religious-based measures mentioned herein, and repealed them without exception, a few Muslim countries still impose dhimmi restrictions up to the present day. Additional background information Some have claimed that under Sharia, if a Jew or Christian is convicted of killing a Muslim, the sentence is death. If a Muslim is convicted of killing a Jew or Christian, there is no death sentence. They often quote the following from Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.50; Narrated by Abu Juhaifa, states: And this from Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 2745; Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As, states: While this point of view is indeed present in Sharia law, it is not the final say, nor the practice over most of Muslim history. There is a hadith that prophet Muhammad indeed did order the execution of a Muslim because he killed a dhimmi, as narrated in Abdul Razzaq and Al Baihaqi. This hadith's authenticity is disputed. Moreover, Ali almost ordered the execution in a similar case had it not been for the dhimmi victim's brother asking for the Muslim not to be executed. Ali said : "Those who have our dhimma have their blood equal to ours ... [they paid the jizyah so that their life and our lives are equal]". Moreover, Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz ordered his regional governors to execute those who kill any dhimmis. This view is adopted by the Maliki and Hanafi schools, as well as many other jurists, such as Al Laith Ibn Saad, Al Sha'bi, Ibn Abi Laila, and Al Nakh'i. Most Islamic states followed this view, as it is evident above during Ali's and Omar II's reigns. It should be noted that the Ottoman Empire also followed this view until its end in 1924. See alsoExternal linksReferences
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