Considering the time that this Charter was developed, some of these tenets are extraordinary and would not be implemented in governmental policy in western countries until at least the 1800s. Providing women the right to decide whom to marry is something that, even today in 2002, we struggle with in many Muslim countries.
If these rights to nonMuslims declared by Prophet Muhammad (peace and Blessings be upon him) were to be applied in their genuine form in some of today’s countries (think Nigeria), would we have nonMuslim minorities opposing the implementation of Shariah? How far we have moved from Islam.
This is accessible via many websites; i just happened to pick this one because it is one of my faves, but it’s avail. all over the web.
**Prophet Muhammad’s (peace and Blessings be upon him) Charter of Privileges to Christians** - Letter to the Monks of St. Catherine Monastery
In 628 C.E. Prophet Muhammad (s) granted a Charter of Privileges to the monks of St. Catherine Monastery in Mt. Sinai. It consisted of several clauses covering all aspects of human rights including such topics as the protection of Christians, freedom of worship and movement, freedom to appoint their own judges and to own and maintain their property, exemption from military service, and the right to protection in war.
An English translation of that document is presented below.
This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.
Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.
No compulsion is to be on them.
Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.
No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses.
Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.
No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight.
The Muslims are to fight for them.
If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.
Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.
No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).