Umdat at-Talib - Al-Buhuti - (1/131)

Section: Rulings of the Pact of Protection

The Imam must subject them to the judgement of Islam in matters of life, property, and honor, and he must carry out the prescribed punishment in what they themselves consider forbidden. They are obliged to remain distinguishable from us: they may ride animals other than horses and only on a pack-saddle (1). They are not to be seated at the head of gatherings, stood up for, or greeted first with the salutation of peace or its like. They are prevented from erecting a new church or similar building, from rebuilding what has collapsed of one, and from raising any structure higher than that of a Muslim (2). They may not openly display wine, swine, bells, or loud recitations of their Scriptures. If a Christian adopts Judaism, or the reverse, nothing will be accepted from him except Islam or his original religion.

Whoever among them refuses to pay the jizya, declines to submit to our rulings, kills a Muslim (3) or commits adultery with one, leads him away from his religion, commits highway robbery, shelters a spy, or speaks ill of Allah, His Book, or His Messenger—his covenant is thereby annulled (4).

When a minor among them living in our lands embraces Islam, dies, or loses one of his parents, he is deemed a Muslim, like a captive child separated from his parents.

(1) In other words, they ride mounts other than horses—such as donkeys—and the *ikaf*, that is, the *bardhaʿa*, the padded cloth placed on a donkey for sitting. (2) From the author’s word “only,” one understands that what is forbidden is merely raising the building above that of a Muslim; matching its height is not prohibited. (3) The phrase “with killing” is absent from manuscript (J). (4) Manuscript (J) reads *wahidah*; the intended reading is *wahdahu*, meaning that the covenant applies to him alone and not to his children or wives, so it is not invalidated.

فصلٌ [في أحكام عقد الذمة] وَعَلَى الإمامِ أخْذُهم بحكم الإسلام في نَفْسٍ وَمَالٍ وعِرضٍ وإقامَة حدٍّ فيما يُحَرّمونه، ويَلزمهم التَّمييز عنَّا، ويركبون غير خَيلٍ بإِكَافٍ (١) ، ولا يجوزُ تصديرهم ولا القِيامُ لهم ولا بَدَاءَتهم بالسَّلام ونحوه، ويُمْنعُون من إحداثِ كنيسةٍ ونحوها وبناءِ ما انهدم منها، ومن تعلية بناءٍ فقط (٢) على مسلم، ومن إظهار خمر وخنِزير وناقُوس وجهرٍ بكتابهم، وإن تهوَّد نصرانيٌّ أو عكسه لم يُقبل منه إلا الإسلام أو دينه. ومن أبى منهم بذل جِزْية، أو التزام حكمنا أو تعَدّى على مسلم بقتل (٣) أو زنى، أو فَتَنَه عن دينهِ أو قَطَعَ طريقًا أو آوى جاسُوسًا، أو ذكر الله، أو كتابه، أو رسوله بسوءٍ انتقض عهدُه وَحْدَه (٤) ، وإذَا أسلم أوْ مَات أو عدم أحد أبَوي غير بالغٍ منهم بدارنا حُكِمَ بإسْلامِهِ كالمسبيِّ دُونَ أبَوَيه. * * *

(١) أي يركبون غير الخيل، كالحمير ونحوها، والإكاف، أي البرذعة، وهي ما يوضع على الحمار ويُجلس عليه. (٢) ويُفهم من قوله: فقط. أنه يمنع من التعلية فقط، ولا يمنع من مساواته لبناء المسلم. (٣) قوله: "بقتل"، ليس في (ج). (٤) فى (ج): "واحده"!!، وقوله: وَحْده، أي دون عهد أولاده أو نسائه فلا ينتقض.