FROM DHIMMAH TO DHIMMITUDE: A THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF THE INTERPRETATIONS AND MODELS OF THE INCLUSION OF NON-MUSLIMS UNDER AN ISLAMIC STATE

Abstract

Recently the term dhimmitude is being used in some English works for analysis and interpretation of the Arabic terms dhimmah or dhimmi, the term dhimmitude thus is being associated with some subjective conditions i.e. the second class citizen and dregetory status of non-Muslim subjects under Islamic rule. The paper deals with dhimmah as a model that Islam has provided for coexistence and peaceful living with the people of other religions from the very beginning. Quran and Sunnah of the prophet Muhammad (upon him be the peace and blessings) are replete with the examples of dealing with the people of other faiths. Quran provides the basis for the theological relations, interaction and coexisting with other faiths and particularly with the people of Book i.e Jews and Christians. While the practicing model of coexistence and peaceful living in Madinah period was provided through sunnah of Prophet peace be upon himself and the Jews were accommodated as non-Muslim citizen of Islamic state. The other communities that lived within the domain of Islamic polity were also accorded the status of ahl al kitab or dhimmi or mu‘ahid prophet (upon him be the peace and blessings) set a unique pattern of granting the right of religious freedom and peaceful living within the context of an Islamic state. Thus the category of people of book was extended to the Magus of Bahrain by accepting Jizyah and granting them peace by Prophet (upon him be the peace and blessings) himself. In this way this model of coexistence was later on extended almost to all other religions by the Muslim rulers and Fuqaha as we shall see in the case of Muslim rulers of different eras. This paper aims to highlight the models adopted by the Muslim rulers for the non-Muslims living in their domain, while focusing on the fuqaha and jurist discourses on the subject. It also reflects on some recent interpretations of Islamic theory of ahl al dhimmah where the status of dhimmah is seen as a condition of deprivation. Keywords: Dhimmah, dhimmitude, social inclusion, non-Muslim, pact, aman