Chapter

The imam is required to hold them to the rulings of Islam regarding life, property, and honor.

His statement, “Chapter,” means: concerning the rulings pertaining to the protected non-Muslim subjects.

His statement, “The imam is required to hold them to the rulings of Islam,” means that the protected non-Muslim subjects are to be held to the rulings that Islam entails. Here, “rulings” is a singular noun annexed to another noun, and thus conveys a general meaning, since a singular noun becomes general when annexed. An example is the statement of Allah, Most High: “If you tried to count Allah’s blessings, you could never enumerate them.” [al-Nahl 16:18] The phrase “Allah’s blessing” is singular; had only its particular referent been intended, we would have been able to enumerate it. What is meant, however, is every blessing, and they cannot be enumerated. Thus, the rulings of Islam means all the rulings of Islam.

His statement, “regarding life, property, and honor”: regarding life, if they kill someone, we execute them; and if one of their own kills one of them, we execute him. But if a Muslim kills one of them, we do not execute him, for a Muslim is not executed for killing a disbeliever—contrary to those who hold that a Muslim is to be executed for killing one under covenant.

The correct view is that a Muslim is not executed for killing a disbeliever. The interpretation of the hadith, “A Muslim is not executed for a disbeliever” (1), as referring only to one who is not under covenant is extremely weak, because one who is not under covenant may be killed, whether by way of legal retaliation or in warfare, since he is a combatant.

The same applies to property: if they destroy a Muslim’s property, we hold them liable; and if they destroy