Relations between Muslims, Jews and Christians as Reflected in Arabic Proverbs

Abstract

The one hundred proverbs selected for this article portray the tension which exists between Muslims and non-Muslims. Although the Quran (2/256) prescribes that there should be no compulsion in religion, in practice we see that ever since the Arab conquest of Syria and Lebanon in 640 A.D. the clashes between the various religious groups never stopped and sometimes even intensified. Jews and Christians were granted the right to retain their property and profess their religion on condition that they paid their annual tribute, Jizyah. These terms and other humiliating conditions set the pattern followed by the Muslim caliphs in regard to conquered populations.' During the first period of Islamic conquest most of the Syrians were still Christians. However, within a period of fifty years, the majority of the population adopted the new religion. Nonetheless, Christianity continued to exist there until the present day. In addition to Christians, there were Jews and Sabians. In Syria, Christians and Jews were generally well treated until the reign of Umar II, the first caliph to impose humiliating restrictions on them. However, some individuals of these minorities were lucky enough to attain high administrative postions. In government, business and industry, the Arabian Muslims could offer no competition to the indigenous Christians. The Jews, however, who were fewer than the Christians and often held meaner jobs, were evidently excluded from government posts. Another factor which contributed to the diversity of religious communities in these countries was the division of the Muslims into Sunnites and Shi'ites (followers of 'Alli and his descendents), and often physical clashes took place between these sects. Syria and Lebanon contain nearly a quarter million Shi'ites fragmented into several minor sects and heterodoxies.