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Womens' Rights in Islam

Some Examples of Absolute Justice in Islam
Non-Muslims in Islam

Being a Non-Muslim does not mean that you do not have rights in Islam. The religious freedom is protected by Islam. In Islam Non-Muslims have many rights such as:

  • They have to be treated kindly. This is clear in the Holy Quran in the verse :“Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not made war against you on account of (your) religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of justice." (Surah Al-Mumtahana:8)

  • They have to be treated justly. This is clear in the Holy Quran in the verse : “O you who believe! Be upright for Allah, bearers of witness with justice, and let not hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably; act equitably, that is nearer to piety, and he careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is Aware of what you do." (Surah Al-Maaeda:9)

  • In the era when Umar Ibn Alkhattab was the Muslims’ Caliph a Jew came to him and complained that Ali Ibn Abu Talib (Prophet Muhammad’s cousin) bought a shield from him and did not pay for it. The noble caliph called Ali and the Jew. When they both came to him he asked the Jew to sit down and asked Ali saying : “Sit father of Al-Hassan". Ali’s face changed. When Umar asked about why he was changed Ali answered that he called the Jew with his name while he favored Ali by calling him (father of Al-Hassan).

    Umar asked Ali if he had any witnesses that he paid the Jew, Ali said :"No". So Umar ruled that Ali should pay the Jew his money.

    The Jew took the money and left then returned declaring that he became a Muslim. When asked for the reason he said that he had seen justice applied even on Ali, the Prophet’s cousin. He declared that Ali had previously paid him the money but had no witnesses to prove the incident and despite his relation to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and despite the fact the Muslims knew that Ali does not lie, Umar ruled against him which in the absolute justice that makes no discrimination between people.

  • In Islam, Non-Muslims living in an Islamic country have to be protected. And much more rights. Even in (AlJezyah) which is the money that non-Muslims living in an Islamic country had to pay for the government (At the same time a Muslim had to pay the Zakat). AlJezyah had lots of rules while collecting it such as women and children and old people did not have to pay it. It was obligatory only on men who can fight. This money is similar to the tax that we pay today.

  • Islam teaches us to respect other people’s places of worship. After the conquest of Jerusalem when the Caliph Umar -may Allah be pleased with him- was visiting a church, the time of prayer came, the people of the church told him to pray there if he wanted. ‘Umar -may Allah be pleased with him- told them that he would not pray there, because he did not want to see Muslims later take other people’s places of worship.