Reference no: EM133410116

Pact of Umar (7th Century?)

After the rapid expansion of the Muslim dominion in the 7th century, Muslims leaders were required to work out a way of dealing with Non-Muslims, who remained in the majority in many areas for centuries. The solution was to develop the notion of the "dhimma", or "protected person". The Dhimmi were required to pay an extra tax, but usually they were unmolested. The Pact of Umar is the peace accord offered by the Caliph Umar to the Christians of Syria, a "pact" which formed the pattern for later Muslim-Christian interactions.

"The Christians of Syria wrote to Caliph Umar accepting his conditions for peace as follows:

In the name of God, the Merciful and Compassionate. This is a letter to the servant of God Umar ibn al-Khattab, Commander of the Muslims. When you came against us, we asked you for safe-conduct for ourselves, our descendants, our property, and the people of our community, and we undertook the following obligations toward you:

We shall not build, in our cities or in their neighborhood, new monasteries, Churches, convents, or monks' cells, nor shall we repair, by day or by night, such of them as fall in ruins or are situated in the quarters of the Muslims.

We shall keep our gates wide open for passersby and travelers. We shall give board and lodging to all Muslims who pass our way for three days.

We shall not give shelter in our churches or in our dwellings to any spy, nor bide him from the Muslims.

We shall not teach the Qur'an to our children.

We shall not manifest our religion publicly nor convert anyone to it. We shall not prevent any of our kin from entering Islam if they wish it.

We shall show respect toward the Muslims, and we shall rise from our seats when they wish to sit.

We shall not seek to resemble the Muslims by imitating any of their garments, the turban, footwear, or the parting of the hair. We shall not speak as they do, nor shall we adopt their customs.

We shall not mount on saddles, nor shall we gird swords nor bear any kind of arms nor carry them on our- persons.

We shall not engrave Arabic inscriptions on our seals.

We shall not display our crosses or our books in the markets of the Muslims. We shall use only clappers in our churches very softly. We shall not raise our voices when following our dead. We shall not bury our dead near the Muslims.

We shall not take slaves who have been allotted to Muslims.

We shall not build houses overtopping the houses of the Muslims.

We shall not strike a Muslim.

We accept these conditions for ourselves and for the people of our community, and in return we receive safe-conduct.

If we in any way violate these undertakings for which we ourselves stand surety, we forfeit our covenant, and we become liable to the penalties for sedition."

Questions:

1. Why do you think Muslims decided on the strategy of toleration expressed here?

2. How did the Muslims attempt to limit additional growth of Christianity in conquered areas?

3. Why do you think Christians in Syria agreed to these terms?