THE PACT OF OMAR

(A treaty that Christians and Jews had to sign in return for their lives in the lands conquered by Muslims in early Islam)

·        We shall not build new monasteries, churches, convents or monks’ cells in our cities or in Muslim neighborhoods.  Should any of these fall into ruins, we shall not repair, by day or night, those in our own neighborhoods or those situated in the quarters of the Muslims.

·        We shall keep our gates wide open for passersby and travelers.  All Muslims that pass our way are to be given board and lodging for as long as three days.

·        We shall not hide any spy from the Muslims or give them sanctuary in our churches or shelter them in our homes.

·        We shall not proclaim our religion publicly nor attempt to convert anyone to it. We shall not forbid any of our kin from entering Islam if they desire to do so.

·        We shall show respect toward Muslims.  If they wish to sit, we shall rise from our seats.

·        We shall not seek to resemble Muslims by imitating any of their garments, turbans, footwear or parting of the hair.  We shall not imitate their way of speech.  

·        We shall not mount on saddles, gird ourselves with swords, bear any kind of arms or conceal weapons on our bodies.

·        We shall not engrave Arabic inscriptions on our seals.

·        We shall not sell fermented drinks.

·        We identify ourselves as non-Muslims by clipping the fronts of our heads.

·        We shall always dress in the same manner wherever we go and we shall bind the zunar, identifying us as non-Muslims, around our waists.

·        We shall not display our crosses or our books on the roads or in the markets of the Muslims. We shall use only clappers very softly in our churches. We shall not raise our voices in mourning when following our dead. We shall not shine lights on any of the roads of the Muslims or in their markets.  We shall not bury our dead near the Muslims.

·        We shall not take slaves who have been allotted to Muslims.

·        We shall not build houses of taller elevation than the houses of Muslims.

·        We accept these conditions for ourselves and for the people of our community, and in return we shall receive safe-conduct.

·        If we in any way violate these regulations, for which we ourselves stand surety, we forfeit our covenant [dhimma] status and shall become liable to the penalties for contumacy and sedition.

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