Playing God

"All rights of this book are reserved for the publisher and the author. This copy is for reading purpose only. This copy cannot be uploaded on any website except those of the publisher and the author." Playing God: Misreading a Divine Practice 49 regarding their citizenship in a state: (i) Dhimm ī s, viz. those who live under the rule of an Islamic State on account of being subdued in a battle. (ii) Musta’mins, viz. non-Muslim residents of D ā r al- harb (abode of war) who temporarily reside in D ā r al- isl ā m (abode of Islam). It has bee n ex plained in the previous sections that subduing n on-Musli ms by force is no longer permitted today; waging war against them to punish them for deliberately denyin g the truth relates to a divine practice pertaining to th e imme diate and foremost addressees of Muhammad (sw s), hence dhimmis and musta’mins are categories of non-Muslims specific to the age of the Prophet (sws) and his Companions (rta). The directives of fiqh related to dhimm ī s and musta’mins consequently cannot be related to the non-Muslims of today. The non-Muslim minorities of today living in Muslim countries can only be classified as mu‘ ā hids (citizens by contract). 31 Keeping in view the general welfare of the state, through mutual consent, any contract can be made with non-Muslims of today regarding their rights. As such, all dealings with them should be according to the terms of the treaty concluded with them. iv. Prohibition of Friendship with Non-Muslims On the basis of the following verse of the Qur’ ā n, some Muslim scholars 32 are of the view that Muslims 31. The m ī th ā q (treaty) of Mad ī nah made with Jewish tribes by the Prophet (sws) is an example of this type of citizenship. 32. Ab ū Bakr Ahmad ibn ‘Al ī al-Jass ā s, Ahk ā m al-Qur’ ā n , www.javedahmadghamidi.com www.al-mawrid.org