Religious Minority Treatment
During the early islamic era,there existed two groups,that is,muslims and non-muslim societies.Muslims were the majority religious group while minority religious group being the non-muslims.Since then,questions have arosen as to whether there existed some harsh treatment of minority religion by the medieval muslims.These questions have arosen due to the fact that the medieval muslims were more powerful than the minority religion.This paper seeks to provide some spotlight on this.
First,there existed the legal framework which involved application of law.The minority religion and the medieval muslim’ authorities had to come into terms and agreement on application of laws.This involved regulation of laws between the two groups such that there was no cases of favourism of one religion society.Therefore this ensured that there was no harsh treatment of the minority religion in terms of what they were to adhere to.
Secondly,the minority religion enjoyed a substantial amount of communal autonomy.This involved the priviledge to maintain their places of worship, appoint communal officials and the right to live by their ancestral laws.For instance,this clearly illustrates how well the muslims treated the religious minorities as the ancestral courts which ensured law enforcement had not been disbanded by the medieval muslims earlier on
Thirdly,there was the issue of tax payment by the minority religion to the medieval muslims.This,to many people seemed like an harrassment to the minority religion.Unfortunately,money was needed to pay the military servicemen.Medieval muslims were responsible for security provision to both religions and therefore there was the need to get tax to pay the millitants.
In conclusion,basing arguments on the application of laws to both religious societies,the substantial amount of autonomy enjoyed by minority religion and the security provided by the medieval muslims to the minority religion,it is so evident that the medieval muslims treated the minority religion well.
Incitation
1.(Louis Finkelstein,1924 pg264-304)
2.(Amnom Linder,1997 pg333-343)
Referencing
1.Louis Finkelstein:Jewish Self-Government in the Middle Ages(1924)pg264-304
2.Amnom Linder:The Jews in the Legal Sources of the Early Middle Ages(1997)pg333-343