—may Allah be pleased with him.

No member of the protected non-Muslim communities may correspond with those of their own faith who are at war with the Muslims, inform them of any Muslim affairs, or ask their envoy to press demands upon the Muslim ruler that would harm the Muslims. Any of them who does so must be punished, by agreement of the Muslims. According to one of the two opinions, he has thereby broken his covenant, and his life and property become forfeit.

Anyone who claims that the Muslims will suffer harm unless these demands are met does not understand the true situation. The Muslims conquered the Syrian coast, which was a most grievous calamity for the Christians. They also required them to wear distinctive clothing, which was likewise among their gravest calamities. Indeed, in their lands the Tatars destroyed all the Christians’ churches, and Nawrūz—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—had required them to wear distinctive clothing, pay the jizyah, and endure humiliation... This was among their gravest calamities, yet it brought the Muslims nothing but good.

The Muslims have no need of them, whereas their need for what exists in Muslim lands is greater than the Muslims’ need for what exists in theirs. Indeed, their religious and worldly interests cannot be sustained without what exists in Muslim lands, whereas the Muslims—Allah’s is all praise and favor—have no need of them in either their religious or worldly affairs.

As for the Christians of al-Andalus, they do not allow Muslims to remain in their lands because they need them; rather, they allow them to remain out of fear of the Tatars. For Muslims enjoy greater standing and honor among the Tatars than Christians do. Even if it were assumed that they