The final article in this series of seven, and it is imperative the same introduction stands. Those of us raised as Christians will have some idea of the core values to which we believe. The Godhead is paramount: One God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. This is the same critical introduction to each of our articles.
Mary was a virgin but gave birth to Jesus when the Holy Spirit came upon her. Jesus God the Son yet fully human lived without sin, was crucified and died on the Cross for our sin and was raised again the third day to life and this, the assurance of Salvation is for anyone who believes in Him.
The central focus of Christianity is love, repentance, forgiveness and compassion with a world view taught by Jesus and expounded in the New Testament that ultimately there will be a divine reckoning for those who reject this astonishing measure of Grace - the Cross.
Dhimmitude
Dhimmi is an Arabic word and means "protected one". The dhimma provides and details the legal, social and economic status of free non-Muslims in the Islamic state. While this may sound fair and compassionate, the reality is quite different.
In Islam the world is divided into two "houses". Dar al-Islam (the house of submission) encompasses all countries that are under Islamic rule. Dar al-Harb (the house of war) includes all other countries that are not yet in submission to Allah's law (Sharia). The house you are in (where you live) depends on whether the government implements Sharia or not.
Dar al-Hudna (the house of calm) refers to countries or areas under truce, bought by the non-Muslims (primarily Jews and Christian) at a price. When a country moves from dar al-Harb to dar al-Islam, the non-Muslims who surrender (and refuse to convert) become dhimmi under a "pact of protection". (dhimma). Being "protected" may give the false impression that Islam has treated Christians and Jews well.
However the pact imposes severe restrictions on what a dhimmi can do, wear, say, go or work etc. In fact the word dhimmi implies that there is a debt by the dhimmi to the Muslim conquerors.
Sura (9):29 provides the basis for the dhimma: "Fight against those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (ie Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) until they pay the jizyah with willing submission and feel themselves subdued."
The conditions are simple: they must pay the jizyah willingly and feel themselves subdued (ie know they have fewer rights than Muslims) and feel humbled. The jizyah is a tribute or tax that is paid to maintain their freedom to practice their religion and have trade. Muslims will often say this is a nominal fee, but Muhammad charged 50% of their income and in Spain, the minimum was 20% but went as high as 80%. (Dozy, Spanish Islam, page 234).
During the second Caliphate, if any of the restrictions were broken, Muslims were allowed to do with them what they do to people of defiance and rebellion, ie fight, kill and enslave them. Quran Sura 4: 89 (an-Nisa) "But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever you find them." In the face of ongoing threat of tyranny, many people simply converted to Islam to avoid the jizyah and the harsh conditions imposed.
Dhimmitude Today
In Egypt the 'jizyah' tax was finally removed from Christians in 1855. This term was coined in 1982 by the Lebanese President Bachir Gemayel, who was later assassinated, in reference to perceived attempts by the country's Muslim leadership to subordinate the large Lebanese Christian minority.
In a speech of September 14, 1982 given at Dayr al-Salib in Lebanon, he said: "Lebanon is our homeland and will remain a homeland for Christians... We want to continue to christen, to celebrate our rites and traditions, our faith and our creed whenever we wish... Henceforth, we refuse to live in any dhimmitude!"
The concept of "dhimmitude" was introduced into Western discourse by the writer Bat Ye'or in a French-language article published in the Italian journal La Rassegna mensile di Israel in 1983. In Bat Ye'or's use, "dhimmitude" refers to allegations of non-Muslims appeasing and surrendering to Muslims and discrimination against non-Muslims in Muslim majority regions.
Ye'or further popularised the term in her books The Decline of Eastern Christianity: From Jihad to Dhimmitude and the 2003 follow up Islam and Dhimmitude: Where Civilizations Collide. In a 2011 interview, she claimed to have indirectly inspired Gemayel's use of the term. Jewish communities living in Arab controlled territory even today have consistently been subjected to this type of additional tax with the only exception being Israel (be aware of the propaganda by many Arabs not living in Israel claim the situation is reversed). As Churchill put it: an appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.
Sharia Law
Sharia law is the body of Islamic law. The term means "way" or "path"; it is the legal framework within which the public and some private aspects of life are regulated for those living in a legal system based on Islam. Google will provide ample options.
Under Sharia law, women are considered deficient: a woman's witness in court is worth half of a man's; women are referred to as possessions; women are considered deficient in intelligence and religious practices; women are the majority in hell; a man can marry up to four wives and can have any number of concubines; men are commanded to beat their wives (Qu'ran [Sura] (4):34); men are better than women and recognising beating wives is a last resort not a commandment.
There is almost no distinction between adultery and rape. Property is usually weighted towards the man, and any inheritance issues favour sons to receive twice as much as any daughters. The husband also has guardianship of school-aged children. See this article for how this plays out in the world today. Islam gives license for Muslim men to oppress women. I recommend the reader to this article.
The Bible: Husbands are commanded to love their wives as Jesus loves the church and died for her (Ephesians Chapter 5 verse 25). Husbands and wives submit to one another in Christ (Ephesians Chapter 5 verse 21).
Response
There is no counterpart to dhimmitude in the Christian or Jewish Scriptures. On the contrary, Jews were commanded to "love the foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt" (see Deuteronomy Chapter 10 verse 19). Christians are to "consider others better than themselves" (see Philippians Chapter 2 verse 3) and to follow the teachings of Jesus who told them to "love your enemies and do good to those who persecute you" (Matthew Chapter 5 verse 44).
Many Christians and Jews may not have lived up to these ideals but unlike the teachings of Islam, they have no justification for discriminatory behavior.
Although there are superficial similarities on some teachings, the fundamentals of the faiths of Christianity and Islam couldn't be more different; they are mutually exclusive and diametrically opposed.
Although some people think that Christians, Jews and Muslims worship the same God, exploring the natures of Allah and Yahweh (Jehovah) reveals them to be completely different beings.
As a result, the practices of its followers are utterly and comprehensively different.
Persecution
These Islamic beliefs of control are more than philosophical, they are specific rules by which everyone is seen to live by. What you believe in your heart matters not, it is the observance that keeps you from the religious sheriff at your door (as it were).
Therefore, anyone, in states where strict Sharia law is enforced, Christian, Jew, a slack Muslim not in strict adherence will be penalised and punished. As the Sunni and Shia Muslims are poles apart (deathly opposed to each other), this adds another vicious, blood curdling announcement to the world with videos and social media content.
The grotesque problem of submission is that a Muslim can never be sure how much submission is acceptable and by whom. Then there are self appointed Imams ... Perhaps Brigitte Gabriel is helpful on how the peaceful majority are irrelevant.
Living under such brutal subjugation is a bewildering issue. Today we're seeing thousands upon thousands of Muslims coming to Christ, many through dreams and visions – they are released from bondage to enjoy deep hunger for spiritual freedom in the joy of the Lord. This a truthful testimony.
Concluding the series
I've concluded this series here as it focuses on what is happening today, right now, and in much of the Muslim world (major exceptions Turkey and Indonesia) so that the reader is aware of the vast differences between Christianity and Islam both on the ground and in theology. No one should be under any illusion they are similar, or it's the same God, or Salvation is the same. Let me repeat the opening statement:
Christians believe the Godhead is paramount: One God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. This is the same critical introduction to each of our articles. Mary was a virgin but gave birth to Jesus when the Holy Spirit came upon her. Jesus God the Son yet fully human lived without sin, was crucified and died on the Cross for our sin and was raised again the third day to life and this, the assurance of Salvation is for anyone who believes in Him.
The central focus of Christianity is love, repentance, forgiveness and compassion with a world view taught by Jesus and expounded in the New Testament that ultimately there will be a divine reckoning for those who reject this astonishing measure of Grace - the Cross.
Series 1-7
This you have read is the first – 10 February
The Qur'an and Hadith – Thursday 11 February
Five Pillars – Monday 15 February
Beliefs – Wednesday 17 February
Jihad and Salvation – Thursday 18 February
Response by followers of Jesus – Monday 22 February
Today the seventh
Dhimmitude, Sharia Law, Persecution – Wednesday 24 February
Aira Chilcott B.Sc (Hons), M. Contemp Sci, Cert IV in Christian Ministry and Theology, Cert IV in Training and Evaluation, Grad Dip Ed., began her working life at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, investigating characteristics of cancer cells. Turning to teaching in the Christian school system provided opportunities to learn theology, more science, mission trips and explore the outdoors through bushwalking and other exploits. Now retired, Aira is a panelist for Young Writers and volunteers at a nature park. Aira is married to Bill and they have three adult sons.
Aira Chilcott's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/aira-chilcott.html