10 hadiths, Quranic verses that forbid murder of non-Muslims

CAIRO – 29 May 2017: This is to Muslims and non-Muslims, who share the wrong belief that the persecution of non-Muslims is permissible in Islam, giving the green light to murder non-Muslims, or paint Muslims with a broad brush.

The following are hadiths (sayings) by Prophet Mohamed on the subject, even one about Egyptian Christians in particular.

1 – “You would soon conquer Egypt and that is a land which is known (as the land of al-qirat). So when you conquer it, treat its inhabitants well. For there lies upon you the responsibility because of blood-tie or relationship of marriage (with them).”
Sahih Muslim Book 31, Hadith 6174 – Sunnah.com

The blood-tie refers to Hajar, the Egyptian wife of Prophet Abraham, who gave birth to Ismail. The marriage, as argued by many scholars, refers to Mariah the Copt, who was gifted to Prophet Mohamed by Muqawqis, the Christian ruler of Egypt at the time.

2 - "Whoever killed a Mu'ahid (a person who is granted the pledge of protection by the Muslims) shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise though its fragrance can be smelt at a distance of forty years (of traveling).”
Source: Sahih Bukhari Vol. 9, Book 83, Hadith 49 – Sunnah.com

3 - "The protection granted by Muslims is one and must be respected by the humblest of them. And he who broke the covenant made by a Muslim, there is a curse of Allah, of his angels, and of the whole people upon him, and neither an obligatory act nor a supererogatory act would be accepted from him as recompense on the Day of Resurrection."
Sahih Muslim, Book 7, Hadith 3167 - Sunnah.com

4 - "Whoever wrongs one with whom a covenant has been made, burdens him with more than he can bear or forcibly takes something from him, I will be his adversary on the Day of Judgment," as narrated by Sawfan Ibn Sulaim through a number of the Companions' children [30 narrators according to the version of Ibn Zangawiyah and al-Baihaqi] who directly narrated from their fathers. [Recorded by Abu Dawud in his Sunan, Ibn Zangawiyah in Al-Amwal and al-Baihaqi in As-Sunan Al-Kubra] – Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta website.

Below are Quranic verses that affirm tolerance towards non-Muslims.

5 - “[w]hoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.”
(5:32 – Saheeh International translation)

6 - “And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed] except by [legal] right. This has He instructed you that you may use reason."
(6:151 - Saheeh International translation)

7 – “There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong.”
(2:256 - Saheeh International translation)

8 – “And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing.”
(8:61- Saheeh International translation)

9 – “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.”
(5:8 - Saheeh International translation)

10 – “Indeed, those who have believed [in Prophet Muhammad] and those [before Him] who were Jews or Sabeans or Christians - those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness - no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.”
(5:69 - Saheeh International translation)

Many scholars argue that the verse above means that non-Muslims are not destined to hell.