Islam in Africa

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that they were required to pay a tax for not being Muslim or that they faced any repercussions or societal judgments because of their faith. The source says, “In Baghdad here are about forty thousand Jews, and they dwell in security, prosperity and honor….” Beyond he fact that they were treated quite fairly, the source says that they live in prosperity. This means that they were in an equal enough environment that they could thrive economically and religiously. The statement that they could thrive religiously is also supported by the, “ Academies for the study of Scripture and the Talmud. These scholars serve as the rabbis, or religious teachers and judges for their community.” In the city of Baghdad it is said that there were ten Academies.

The most radical interpretation of the Quran’s statements of rule are shown in Firuz Shah Tugbluq’s account of his accomplishments that he prided himself on during his reign from 1351 to 1388. The document says that, although Hindu’s were required to pay a tax in order to receive security, they were still subsequent to severe punishment from the ruler. “Under Divine guidance I destroyed these edifices, and I killed those leaders of infidelity who seduced others into error, and the lower orders I subjected to stripes and chastisement, until this abuse was entirely abolished.” The remaining Hindu citizens of Delhi were heavily persuaded to convert to become Muslims

These four sources discussed the treatment of three different religious groups and how they were each treated under Muslim rule. From these vastly varied accounts it is obvious to see that each ruler interpreted how the Quran and Mohammad expected them to treat their subjects very differently. While the Jewish people in Baghdad were treated as equals, the Christians in Tiflis and Syria were looked at as second-class citizens, and even worse the Hindus in Delhi under Firuz Shah Tugbluq’s reign were slaughtered and heavily persuaded to convert to Islam. The text of the Quran being so loosely stated is what caused the vast differences in the treatments of non-Muslim subjects through Islam history.