FROM THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET

After that, the Prophet entered into many treaties with the Jews and the Christians of Arabia. In AD 632, the Christians of Najran sent a deputation to the Prophet. The Prophet lodged the members of the deputation in his mosque and permitted them to say their prayers there according to their own faith. He conveyed to them the message of Islam. They entered into a treaty with the Muslims and were given a pledge that they would be free to practice their religion and have the protection of the state on the payment of a poll tax. The text of the treaty signed by the Prophet with the Christians of Najran is a historical document giving evidence of a guarantee of the right to religious freedom under Islam. It runs as follows: ‘The Najran and those living therein are placed under the protection of God and the responsibility of Muhammad, the Prophet and Messenger of God, so far as their lives, their religion, their lands, their property, the individual members both present and absent, their places of worship and their right of prayers are concerned. Similarly, neither any priest nor monk shall be removed from his position, nor a person making a religious endowment shall be deprived of his bequeathed state. And all that they legally own, small and big, shall belong to them, so long it has nothing to do with usury or the blood vengeance prevalent during the days of ignorance. And in case a person claims something from them by right, it will be settled on the basis of equity and justice and without discrimination to either of the parties. Whoever has taken usury before signing this covenant, I do not hold any obligation for that. Nobody shall be held liable for the acts of oppression committed by any other member of his community. God and His Messenger shall remain bound for all time by the contents of this treaty, unless decreed by God, provided they (the Christians of Najran) remain sincere and continue dealing with fairness among themselves and without resorting to injustice or acts of oppression against each other.’ A careful study of the life of the Prophet, through the Quran and traditions, confirms that he never tired of calling people to the path of God, or of exhorting them to maintain peace. He was firm in his stand that peace was better than war. Peaceful coexistence, established Islam has been remarkably unique in legislating laws with compassion and sympathy in matters relating to the nonMuslim citizens of a Islamic state.