Crucified Again: Exposing Islam's New War on Christians (5 page)

In the Muslim community, the holy war [jihad] is a religious duty, because of the universalism of the Muslim mission and the obligation to convert everybody to Islam either by persuasion or by force.... The other religious groups did not have a universal mission, and the holy war was not a religious duty for them, save only for purposes of defense.... They are merely required to establish their religion among their own people....
But Islam is under obligation to gain power over other nations.
[Emphasis added.]
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Allah said, “until they pay the jizya,” if they do not choose to embrace Islam, “with willing submission,” that is, in defeat and subservience, “and feel themselves subdued,” that is, disgraced, humiliated, and belittled. Therefore, Muslims are not allowed to honor the dhimmis or elevate them above Muslims, for they are miserable, disgraced, and humiliated. Sahih Muslim [a canonical hadith collection] recorded from Abu Hurraira that the Prophet said, “Do not initiate the Salam [peace greeting] to the Jews and Christians, and if you meet any of them in a road, force them to its narrowest alley.” This is why the Leader of the Faithful, [the second caliph] Omar bin al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, demanded his well-known conditions be met by the Christians, conditions that ensured their continued humiliation, degradation and disgrace.
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When you came to our countries, we asked you for safety for ourselves and the people of our community, upon which we imposed the following conditions on ourselves for you:

 

 

Not to build a church in our city—nor a monastery, convent, or monk’s cell in the surrounding areas—and not to repair those that fall in ruins or are in Muslim quarters;

 

Not to prevent Muslims from lodging in our churches, by day or night, and to keep their doors wide open for [Muslim] passersby and travelers;

 

Not to harbor in them [churches, monasteries] or our homes a spy, nor conceal any deceits from Muslims;

 

Not to clang our cymbals except lightly and from the innermost recesses of our churches;

 

Not to display a cross on them [churches], nor raise our voices during prayer or readings in our churches anywhere near Muslims;

Not to produce a cross or [Christian] book in the markets of the Muslims;

 

Not to congregate in the open for Easter or Palm Sunday, nor lift our voices [in lamentation] for our dead nor show our firelights with them near the market places of the Muslims;

 

Not to bring near to them [Muslims] pigs or alcohol;

 

Not to display any signs of polytheism, nor make our religion appealing, nor call or proselytize anyone to it;

 

Not to take anything of [or “be involved with”] the slave conquered by the Muslims;

 

Not to prevent any of our relatives who wish to enter into Islam;

 

To distinguish ourselves wherever we are and not to resemble Muslims in dress—whether in headgear, turbans, sandals, hair-parting, or modes of transportation;

 

Not to speak like them [Muslims], nor adopt their surnames;

 

To clip our foreheads and not part our forelocks;

 

To tighten our zunanir [a type of belt] around our waists and not to engrave our signet rings in Arabic nor ride on saddles;

 

Not to possess or bear any arms whatsoever, nor gird ourselves with swords;

 

To honor the Muslims, show them the way, and rise up from our seats if they wish to sit down;

 

Not to come upon them in their homes, nor teach our children the Koran;

 

None of us shall do business with a Muslim unless the Muslim commands it;

 

To host every traveling Muslim for three days and feed him adequately;

 

We guarantee all this to you upon ourselves, our descendants, our spouses, and our neighbors, and if we change or contradict these conditions imposed upon ourselves in order to receive safety, we forfeit our dhimma [covenant], and we become liable to the same treatment you inflict upon the people who resist and cause sedition.
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