Muhammad and Christianity

[Emad]

Muhammad(pbuh) and Christianity

In 628 C.E. Prophet Muhammad granted a Charter of Privileges to the monks of St. Catherine Monastery in Mt. Sinai. It consisted of several clauses covering all aspects of human rights including such topics as the protection of Christians, freedom of worship and movement, freedom to appoint their own judges and to own and maintain their property, exemption from military service, and the right to protection in war. An English translation of that document follows:

“This is a message from Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate. No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the Muslim community is to disobey this covenant till the Last Day(end of the world).” --Muhammad peace be upon him

What do you guys think about this?

 

[MrS]

By what authority did he think he could give them rights they already enjoyed?

Or was it they were “privileged” to not have their rights taken from them by the force of the warrior?

 

[Emad]

MrS:

By what authority did he think he could give them rights they already enjoyed?

This is when they were under the Islamic state. He was making clear to people their rights.

 

[MrS]

Emad:

Muhammad(pbuh) and Christianity

In 628 C.E. Prophet Muhammad granted a Charter of Privileges to the monks of St. Catherine Monastery in Mt. Sinai. It consisted of several clauses covering all aspects of human rights including such topics as the protection of Christians, freedom of worship and movement, freedom to appoint their own judges and to own and maintain their property, exemption from military service, and the right to protection in war. An English translation of that document follows:

“This is a message from Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate. No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the Muslim community is to disobey this covenant till the Last Day(end of the world).” --Muhammad peace be upon him

What do you guys think about this?

I wonder if anyone believes this is still so.

What do you think about this?

 

[Emad]

MrS:

I wonder if anyone believes this is still so.

What do you think about this?

I think it is true and I and all the Muslims I know believe this.

 

[JimG]

Based on this passage, then currently Muslim countries should also afford religious rights to Christians, but I don’t think that is the case in countries such as Saudi Arabia or others. If there is to be religious tolerance, why the fuss about the Muslim in Afghanistan who became Christian?

 

[Muslim]

JimG:

Based on this passage, then currently Muslim countries should also afford religious rights to Christians, but I don’t think that is the case in countries such as Saudi Arabia or others. If there is to be religious tolerance, why the fuss about the Muslim in Afghanistan who became Christian?

excellent post emad…
well its more political than religious… if the Islamic countries followed true Islam, the Islamic empire wouldn’t have disappeared. It was the most advanced and powerful civilization in the world for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, their disunity and incorporating personal beliefs and agenda brought the downfall of Islamic empire.

 

[Rodrigo_Bivar]

What is the provenance of this letter? Is it in the sahih hadiths? Or merely an apologetic invented by latter day apologists like Dr A Zahoor and Dr A Haq? This is not mentioned in any of the authoritative Islamic literature AFAIK and its origin is in a1990 book by the said authors. I know this is propagated through the net but the original source is Zahoor and Haq ‘Muslim History: 570 - 1950 C.E.’

Why is this so-called charter not mentioned in the hadiths and sira?

Chau,
Rodrigo

 

[Emad]

Rodrigo Bivar:

What is the provenance of this letter? Is it in the sahih hadiths? Or merely an apologetic invented by latter day apologists like Dr A Zahoor and Dr A Haq? This is not mentioned in any of the authoritative Islamic literature AFAIK and its origin is in a1990 book by the said authors. I know this is propagated through the net but the original source is Zahoor and Haq ‘Muslim History: 570 - 1950 C.E.’

Why is this so-called charter not mentioned in the hadiths and sira?

Chau,
Rodrigo

You are right, I did some net searching and found that it’s source does go back to that book, it may be mentioned in Islamic texts, I have to ask a scholar, however it’s meaning is correct and according to the teachings of Islam. There are similar treaties with Jews during his time which can be found in sirah books.

 

[Emad]

022.040
Those who have been expelled from their homes without a just cause except that they say: Our Lord is Allah. And had there not been Allah’s repelling some people by others, certainly there would have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques in which Allah’s name is much remembered; and surely Allah will help him who helps His cause; most surely Allah is Strong, Mighty.

Allah tells Muslims if they don’t fight injustice, the above highlighted places will be destroyed by evil doers. He didn’t mention mosques first, but last, and put other places of worship before as a priority. Muslims are taught to defend and protect such places. However it is sad that people only know a few verses that are taken out of context then they say this is what Islam teaches. It’s a shame in my opinion.

 

[cestusdei]

How about we grant you the same “privileges” in the US that Christians get in say…Saudi Arabia (Muhammeds homeland)? What do you say? Sound good?

 

[Emad]

cestusdei:

How about we grant you the same “privileges” in the US that Christians get in say…Saudi Arabia (Muhammeds homeland)? What do you say? Sound good?

Saudi has nothing to do with Islam and I am not Saudi Arabian. I am an American, it’s clear that you are full of hate, I try to open a thread with something positive and your so full of hate that you don’t want to do anything but argue. I will report you to the admins of this site and complain about your hatred and taking this post off topic.

 

[Booklover]

Emad:

Saudi has nothing to do with Islam and I am not Saudi Arabian. I am an American, it’s clear that you are full of hate, I try to open a thread with something positive and your so full of hate that you don’t want to do anything but argue. I will report you to the admins of this site and complain about your hatred and taking this post off topic.

According to Muslims, anyone who disagrees with Islam is “full of hate”.

If your original post were true, why are Muslims destroying Christian churches and attacking so many Christians? All that you’ve posted is just a statement on paper. ACTIONS SPEAK A LOT LOUDER THAN WORDS!

Vickie

 

[Muslim]

022.040
Those who have been expelled from their homes without a just cause except that they say: Our Lord is Allah. And had there not been Allah’s repelling some people by others, certainly there would have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques in which Allah’s name is much remembered; and surely Allah will help him who helps His cause; most surely Allah is Strong, Mighty.

Allah tells Muslims if they don’t fight injustice, the above highlighted places will be destroyed by evil doers. He didn’t mention mosques first, but last, and put other places of worship before as a priority. Muslims are taught to defend and protect such places. However it is sad that people only know a few verses that are taken out of context then they say this is what Islam teaches. It’s a shame in my opinion.

exactly brother… however during the whole cartoon fiasco I believe Hamas protected a lot of Churches and prevented people from attacking it. I believe also the code of war in Islam prevents anyone from descecrating any religious symbols and places of worships (cept idols) and attacking monks, etc… unfortunately, no one follows that anymore

 

[Ella]

Muslim:

exactly brother… however during the whole cartoon fiasco I believe Hamas protected a lot of Churches and prevented people from attacking it. I believe also the code of war in Islam prevents anyone from descecrating any religious symbols and places of worships (cept idols) and attacking monks, etc… unfortunately, no one follows that anymore

Muslim, what about the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul? It was once a basilica; the Turks converted it to a mosque. It would be a great gesture of peace if the Hagia Sophia was returned to the Orthodox church.

 

[Muslim]

Ella:

Muslim, what about the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul? It was once a basilica; the Turks converted it to a mosque. It would be a great gesture of peace if the Hagia Sophia was returned to the Orthodox church.

what about the Mosque of Cordoba?
anyways Hagia Sophia is neutral now, its a museum.
i believe the hagia sophia was actually preserved because of the Muslims since they plastered the entire walls…i was watching NGC or discovery channel and they said that preserved all the original mosaic and artworks from the hagia sophia.

 

[Ella]

Muslim:

what about the Mosque of Cordoba?
anyways Hagia Sophia is neutral now, its a museum.
i believe the hagia sophia was actually preserved because of the Muslims since they plastered the entire walls…i was watching NGC or discovery channel and they said that preserved all the original mosaic and artworks from the hagia sophia.

Maybe a trade could be done? Restore the Mosque of Cordoba, restore the basilica of Hagia Sophia.

 

[Muslim]

Ella:

Maybe a trade could be done? Restore the Mosque of Cordoba, restore the basilica of Hagia Sophia.

well you see… Mosque of Cordoba is a Church…
Hagia Sophia is a museum…
kind of apples and oranges.

 

[Ella]

Muslim:

well you see… Mosque of Cordoba is a Church…
Hagia Sophia is a museum…
kind of apples and oranges.

Doesn’t mean it couldn’t be done.

 

[Mike_D30]

Emad:

Muhammad(pbuh) and Christianity

In 628 C.E. Prophet Muhammad granted a Charter of Privileges to the monks of St. Catherine Monastery in Mt. Sinai. It consisted of several clauses covering all aspects of human rights including such topics as the protection of Christians, freedom of worship and movement, freedom to appoint their own judges and to own and maintain their property, exemption from military service, and the right to protection in war. An English translation of that document follows:

“This is a message from Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate. No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the Muslim community is to disobey this covenant till the Last Day(end of the world).” --Muhammad peace be upon him

What do you guys think about this?

I would say it’s admirable and ahead of its time. I don’t know how much Muslims today hold to this document though. I think Muslims were more fair than Christians during this time period. However in the past 200 years the Christian West has surpassed Muslims by leaps and bounds when it comes to charity, freedom, and human rights.