Ramadan 2013 – Day 9 – Dhimmitude

Most westerners are familiar with the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In addition to being found in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31, versions of the golden rule principle are found in almost every other religion. The golden rule does not discriminate  – you are to treat everyone regardless of their sex, race, religion, etc., they way you want to be treated.

Because of Islam’s dual nature, there cannot be a golden rule in Islam. Islamic Dualism is seen in the early Qur’an versus the late Qur’an, in Islam’s internal treatment of issues like women’s rights, but dualism is most obvious in the treatment of kafirs (non-Muslims).

Muslims are to treat other Muslims quite differently than they treat kafirs. For example a Muslim is not to lie to another Muslim. However lying to a kafir in the form of taqiyya and kitman is allowed if it advances the cause of Islam. Taqiyya is saying something that is not true, and kitman is lying by omission. The Qur’an itself advocates deception against non-believers in Sura 3:54 which says that Allah is the best of schemers.

The most obvious double standard for Muslims versus non-Muslims can be found in the concept of Dhimmitude, a term coined by Bat Ye’or, author of Eurabia. The word comes from the Arabic word, “dhimmis” which means protected. Dhimmis are non-Muslims living in an Islamic state. Originally dhimmis were “people of the book” – defined as Jews and Christians but eventually the term came to encompass all non-Muslims.

As the Muslim empire expanded throughout the world, different people groups with their own religions were overtaken. Muhammad granted them “protection” if they would pay a tax. Non-Muslims conquered by Islam have the choice to convert, die or pay the Jizya (tax). Sura 9:29 commands, “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”

This tax collected from non-Muslims in Islamic lands was used to continue to fund jihad and the expansion of the Islamic world. Eventually the Pact of Umar set the legal foundation for how Muslims treated dhimmis. The pact most likely drafted around 717 AD forbade new churches or the repair of churches. It forced Christians to give room and board to Muslims passing through for three days. It forbade Christians from public worship and any evangelism. Christians were to give up their seats if a Muslim wished to sit. They could not display crosses and were not to bear arms.

Often in order to escape the dhimmi status, Christians, Jews and others would simply convert to Islam.

Today western nations are blindly adopting policies that subject westerners to dhimmi status without even realizing it. We will look at specific examples in a future article.

Prayer Points:

Nine out of ten Muslims have never been invited to a Christian home. Pray that God will open doors for Christians to begin to reach out to Muslims in their neighborhoods and communities, and pray that those who are able to reach out will be wise and equipped with the knowledge of the true system of Islam.

Pray that Muslims will begin to see the freedom available for all that is only available through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

There is much persecution today for Christians living in Muslim nations. Pray for strength for these Christians that they will not bow their knee to the false system in order to escape persecution.