Prophet’s Policy Towards Non-Muslims
The attitude of Islam towards non-Muslims is summed up in the Qur’anic verses:
The Quran lays down a unique principle in regard to the treatment of non-Muslims. It grants complete autonomy to every religious community, which not only then enjoys freedom of faith and worship in its own judges. The concept of complete internal autonomy has been advocated in a number of Qur’anic Verses, one of which is very clear:
Muslims defended the frontiers of the state and laid down thier lives for it, but non-Muslim subjects of the state enjoyed the fruits of peace, safety and security. They only paid a small price for this enviable privilege, by way of a tax called jizyah. This was not an innovation of Islam. Islam inherited this institution from Iran, where those who did not discharge military duty had to pay this tax. The tax on non-Muslim subjects was very light. It was equivalent to ten days’ food in a year - a small price to pay for being guaranteed full protection as a citizen and an exemption from military duties.
No discrimination was exercised against non-Muslims on the basis of religion. In 2 AH, after the Muslim victory at the Battle of Badr, Makkans sent yet another delegation to the Negus with a view to seek the repatriation of Muslims from Abyssinia so that they could be executed at home. To counter the move, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. sent a non-Muslim, Amr ibn Umayyah al-Qumro, as his ambassador to the court of the Negus.
The attitude of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. towards his Jewish neighbours was kind and cordial. He always visited their homes to enquire after the health of their sick children. There was a Jewish tribe by the name of the Banu Arid in Madinah. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. had been pleased with them for some reason and had fixed an annual stipend for them. When the funeral procession of a Jew passed by in the street, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. always stood up as a mark of deference.
The attitude of the Muslims towards their non-Muslim compatriots was one of kindness, consideration and extreme tolerance. This generous treatment was reciprocated by their trust and loyalty. A civil war started in the Muslim state during the Caliphate of ‘Uthman and continued down the ages, but never once did non-Muslim subjects raise the standard of revolt. They sided neither with one nor the other party. They always remained neutral and never took advantage of the situation.
The ruler of Byzantium strongly urged the Christian subjects of Islam to rise in revolt while a civil was was raging between ‘Ali and Mu’awiyah. He promised to liberate them by attacking the Muslims, but he did not succeed in inciting a rebellion. Such efforts continued down the ages until the time of the Crusades, but the Christian subjects of Islam always responded by saying that they preferred the pagan rulers (i.e. the Muslims) to their co-religionist.
The reason for this loyalty was the fact that the Muslims never compelled the Christians to renounce their religion and gave them complete religious freedom. Their religious institutions received aid and assistance from Muslims. An authentic original documents exists belonging to the period of another city, saying that a new nation had taken over as their ruler, but it did not indulge in tryranny. On the contrary, it protected their churches and gave financial aid to their converts.
There are no priests or missionaries in Islam. Hence, it is the religious duty of the Muslim community to introduce the teaching of the Qur’an as well as reading and writing. The Muslims themselves have to know the beliefs and teachings of Islam. The Qur’an says:
The attitude of Islam towards non-Muslims is summed up in the Qur’anic verses:
“There should be no compulsion in religion” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:256)
“Your (Prophet’s)duty is only to convey the Message” (Surah Ash-Shura 42:48).
Compulsion is thus ruled out for the purpose of the propagation of Islam. The duty of the Prophet is merely to communicate and propagate the Message. The result is in the hand of God. It can be said of the period of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and the regime of his Rightly-Guided Caliphs that no one was ever converted through compulsion.“Your (Prophet’s)duty is only to convey the Message” (Surah Ash-Shura 42:48).
The Quran lays down a unique principle in regard to the treatment of non-Muslims. It grants complete autonomy to every religious community, which not only then enjoys freedom of faith and worship in its own judges. The concept of complete internal autonomy has been advocated in a number of Qur’anic Verses, one of which is very clear:
” And let the People of the Gospel judge according to what Allah has reavealed therein.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:47)
This means that Christians should judge according to the laws given by God in the Bible. In deference to this principle, every religious community was granted complete autonomy during the time of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. They enjoyed as much freedom in respect of their religion, worship and legal matters as did any Muslim. A little later a new development took place. It was made incumbent on every Muslim to participate in war but non-Muslims were exempted from this duty for the simple reason that they could not be compelled to wage a war.
Muslims defended the frontiers of the state and laid down thier lives for it, but non-Muslim subjects of the state enjoyed the fruits of peace, safety and security. They only paid a small price for this enviable privilege, by way of a tax called jizyah. This was not an innovation of Islam. Islam inherited this institution from Iran, where those who did not discharge military duty had to pay this tax. The tax on non-Muslim subjects was very light. It was equivalent to ten days’ food in a year - a small price to pay for being guaranteed full protection as a citizen and an exemption from military duties.
No discrimination was exercised against non-Muslims on the basis of religion. In 2 AH, after the Muslim victory at the Battle of Badr, Makkans sent yet another delegation to the Negus with a view to seek the repatriation of Muslims from Abyssinia so that they could be executed at home. To counter the move, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. sent a non-Muslim, Amr ibn Umayyah al-Qumro, as his ambassador to the court of the Negus.
The attitude of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. towards his Jewish neighbours was kind and cordial. He always visited their homes to enquire after the health of their sick children. There was a Jewish tribe by the name of the Banu Arid in Madinah. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. had been pleased with them for some reason and had fixed an annual stipend for them. When the funeral procession of a Jew passed by in the street, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. always stood up as a mark of deference.
The attitude of the Muslims towards their non-Muslim compatriots was one of kindness, consideration and extreme tolerance. This generous treatment was reciprocated by their trust and loyalty. A civil war started in the Muslim state during the Caliphate of ‘Uthman and continued down the ages, but never once did non-Muslim subjects raise the standard of revolt. They sided neither with one nor the other party. They always remained neutral and never took advantage of the situation.
The ruler of Byzantium strongly urged the Christian subjects of Islam to rise in revolt while a civil was was raging between ‘Ali and Mu’awiyah. He promised to liberate them by attacking the Muslims, but he did not succeed in inciting a rebellion. Such efforts continued down the ages until the time of the Crusades, but the Christian subjects of Islam always responded by saying that they preferred the pagan rulers (i.e. the Muslims) to their co-religionist.
The reason for this loyalty was the fact that the Muslims never compelled the Christians to renounce their religion and gave them complete religious freedom. Their religious institutions received aid and assistance from Muslims. An authentic original documents exists belonging to the period of another city, saying that a new nation had taken over as their ruler, but it did not indulge in tryranny. On the contrary, it protected their churches and gave financial aid to their converts.
There are no priests or missionaries in Islam. Hence, it is the religious duty of the Muslim community to introduce the teaching of the Qur’an as well as reading and writing. The Muslims themselves have to know the beliefs and teachings of Islam. The Qur’an says:
“Do not abuse the gods of other religions or their prophets and religious men, lest they should abuse your God or Prophet or your religious men.”
Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. always showed great respect for the feelings of non-Muslims. Therefore, friendship and cooperation with the non-Muslims is a religious duty of all Muslims to win their hearts through kindness. War is allowed only as an act of defense. Hence, for friendly non-Muslims, Islam offers friendship and goodwill. There is not a single instance in history where the Muslims stabbed a friendly non-Muslim power in the back. Islam stands for justice and fairplay for all, whether Muslims or non-Muslims
I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger. 
