This is the relationship between Islam & Christianity in the era of Caliph Al-Mutawakkil

 

This is the relationship between Islam & Christianity in the era of Caliph Al-Mutawakkil

The 9th century AD or 3 Hijriyah not only witnessed interesting phenomena of Muslim-Christian interaction, but also witnessed important changes regarding the legal and social position of Christians under Islamic rule. Previously, during the reign of Umar ibn Khattab, he made the treaty of al-Uhda al-Umariyyah which governed the life of Christians in Jerusalem. Although the agreement seemed to limit the movement of non-Muslims more than the Medina Charter, at some levels many sides of the agreement were relatively liberal, especially those related to the practice of Christianity and Judaism.

However, Umar's policy seemed to change in the 9th century AD. This can be seen in the policies made by the 10th Caliph of the Abbasid State, al-Mutawakkil in 850 AD 235 H. As narrated by al-Tabari, one of these laws recorded like this:

In 850 AD/235 H, al-Mutawakkil decreed that Christians and dhimmis in general must wear a honey-yellow head covering (thaylasan) and wear a special belt (zunnar); they had to ride horses in wooden saddles with two balls attached to the back; sew two buttons on the cap (qalansuwah) when they put it on.

And wearing a cap of a different color than that of the Muslims; attached two patches to the clothes of their slaves of a different color than the patched garments, one patch on the chest and the other on the back, four fingers long each, and both were honey yellow. The turbans they wear must be honey yellow.

Their women who go out and appear in public wear honey-yellow veils. He also ordered their slaves to wear special belts and not to wear belts (minthaqa). He ordered the demolition of their newly built church and took a tenth of their house. If the place is large enough, then there must be built a mosque; if it is not suitable for building a mosque, the place must be made open.

He ordered to install satanic symbols made of wood on the doors of their houses so that their houses could be distinguished from those of the Muslims. He forbade them to work in government offices and in official affairs which gave them power over the Muslims.

He forbade their children to attend Muslim schools or that Muslims teach their children. He forbade displaying the cross in their Passover celebration, as well as Jewish worship. He ordered that their graves be made level with the ground so that they do not resemble the graves of the Muslims. 

For Christians and Jews, this policy is very attractive because; First, he places great emphasis on clothing. Second , he paid attention to the social standing and education of Christians. Simply put, this policy seems to aim to affirm the position of Christians and Jews as second-class citizens in the Islamic world. They are positioned lower in terms of social standing. This is certainly very contrary to, for example in modern language, Human Rights.

Indeed, in its history, Islam has been tough on non-Muslims under its rule. However, it must be borne in mind that the conditions experienced by the non-Muslims were not much different from the experiences of the non-Christians who lived under Roman rule. An empire that made Christianity its official religion in the fourth century. Non-Christians, including Jews, are disadvantaged and neglected in many ways, including in economic terms.

The policy of the caliphate in the medieval period then became an easy target for the orientalists in overthrowing Islam. For example, the Jewish censure published under the pseudonym Bat Ye'or (daughter of the nile). He protested discrimination and the absence of equality in medieval Islamic rule.

For the middle size, Bat Ye'or statement can not be justified. The treatment of Muslims towards Christians and Jews is relatively more liberal and tolerant although in modern terms there are still discriminatory aspects. A fair comparison can only be made by comparing it to other medieval communities. And in the end, the Islamic world is much better off.