Muslim Australians - Religion Cultural Diversity Resource Manual

The Prophet Muhammad on protection of ‘people of the Book’
under Islamic rule in the 7th century CE
“Whenever monks, devotees and pilgrims gather together, whether in a
mountain or valley, or den, or frequented place, or plain, or church, or in
houses of worship, verily we are back of them and shall protect them, and their
properties and their morals, by myself, by my friends and by my assistants, for
they are of my subjects and under my protection.
No one is allowed to plunder their pilgrims, or destroy or spoil any of their
churches, or houses of worship, or take any of the things contained within
these houses and bring it to the houses of Islam. And he who takes away
anything therefrom, will be one who has corrupted the oath of God, and, in
truth, disobeyed His messenger.
They must not be forced to carry arms or stones; but the [Muslims] must
protect them and defend them against others. It is positively incumbent upon
every one of the Islam[ic] nation not to contradict or disobey this oath [sic]
until the Day of Resurrection and the end of the world.” 37
There are many examples from the
past that demonstrate how Muslims
treated non-Muslims under Muslim
rule. In great empires of the Islamic
world, religious communities had the
freedom to practise their religions,
and to establish places of worship and
educational institutions. Religious
minorities were also governed by
their own laws, not by Islamic law.
This does not mean that in the
history of Islam, there were no
problems at all for non-Muslims
under Muslim rule at certain points
in time.
In the modern period, mainstream
Muslims do not divide the world
into the ‘world of Islam’ and ‘world
of non-Islam’. In Muslim majority
countries, they do not think of
non-Muslims there as second-class
citizens. Today for most Muslims,
what matters is citizenship in a
nation-state which gives equal rights
to all citizens regardless of their
religion, who are equal before the law.
Muslims and non-Muslims are equal
members of these societies.
The debates among Muslims in the
pre-modern period on ‘limited rights
of non-Muslims’ under an Islamic
state are considered outdated and
have been taken over by the emphasis
on equality of all citizens.
Muslims and Interfaith
dialogue in Australia
Many Muslims feel it is very
important to establish good relations
with members of the wider Australian
community. Because of this, Muslims
sit on interfaith bodies such as the
Women’s Interfaith Network and the
Council for Chaplains in Tertiary
Institutions. Muslims also participate
in various interfaith forums such
as the Multifaith Conference on
Reconciliation and Justice and
meeting with members of Catholics
Involved in Interfaith Dialogue.
Muslim representatives of Islamic
state councils often visit schools and
churches to give talks on Islam and
to help build bridges with the wider
community.
37
“The Oath of Prophet Mohammed to the Followers of Nazarene”, trans. Anton F. Haddad, New York: Board of Counsel, 1902.
64 Muslim Australians:THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS