Jordanian Citizens, Not Dhimmis

The bloodshed at the church in Hammoud, Karak, is still fresh in our minds. The pain of families who lost their loved ones is felt by all Jordanians, those who gathered to say goodbye to someone they loved could never have imagined that their prayers would end in tragedy, condemning this crime and offering condolences is not enough. we must also confront the ideas that spread hatred and religious intolerance.

I was deeply troubled by statements from some hardline religious figures in Jordan who still describe Jordanian Christians as mustaʾmanūn (people granted temporary protection) or ahl al-dhimma (non-Muslims living under a historical agreement of protection). Ironically, some of these same people call for moderate religious education to fight extremism, without recognising that their own words promote a sense of religious superiority.

More troubling is that some who hold these views teach at Jordanian universities. Through their lectures and writings, they pass these ideas to students. Extremist beliefs do not appear overnight, they develop gradually until people accept them without question, what seems like a simple religious opinion expressed by a professor today may become a deeply held belief in a young person’s mind tomorrow.

Let us be clear, what does it mean to describe a Jordanian Christian as a mustaʾman?

In classical Islamic jurisprudence, this term generally referred to a non-Muslim entering Muslim territory under temporary protection, without intending permanent settlement, how could this possibly describe a Christian born in Karak, whose ancestors have lived there for generations? Who gave him permission to live in his own homeland? And who has the right to grant or withdraw that permission?

I cannot understand why some insist on classifying people according to religious interpretations developed centuries ago, as though the world had not changed,i respect the contributions of earlier Muslim scholars. They developed their opinions according to the circumstances of their time, but I reject using those historical interpretations to define relationships between citizens today.

The concept of ahl al-dhimma once served a purpose in regulating relations between Muslims and non-Muslims, modern citizenship, however, rests on a different foundation, a Jordanian Christian is neither a dhimmi whom we generously agree to treat well nor a mustaʾman whom we allow to live safely among us. He is a citizen with the same rights and responsibilities as any Muslim Jordanian.Why is it so difficult for some to understand that a Christian from Karak loves Jordan as much as a Muslim from Karak? They share the same land, history, tribal ties, customs, and memories. The church and mosque are not symbols of two different homelands. They belong to one country’s shared history.

There is something else I find deeply painful, While families mourned victims killed in cold blood, I noticed that some people were uncomfortable even praying for God’s mercy upon them, they offered condolences but avoided asking God to have mercy on the deceased, relying on religious interpretations that prohibit such prayers for non-Muslims. I do not wish to debate those interpretations here, but I must ask: What has happened to our sense of humanity when even the word mercy becomes difficult to say before grieving mothers, heartbroken fathers, and children who have lost loved ones?.

I fear that within weeks, the same voices will again declare it forbidden to congratulate Christians on their holidays, share their celebrations, or pray for their dead, as though this tragedy had taught us nothing. Such harmful messages deserve serious scrutiny and accountability. More importantly, we must acknowledge that there is a problem in how some Muslims view Christians, shaped by historical attitudes and religious interpretations.

Fighting extremism cannot mean only arresting those who carry weapons, before someone picks up a weapon, they may already have absorbed ideas suggesting that people of another religion deserve fewer rights or less respect, I am not saying everyone who uses the terms dhimmi or mustaʾman supports violence, nor should anyone be blamed for a crime they did not commit. But repeating these classifications without questioning them can influence how society thinks and provide extremists with arguments to justify their actions.

Words matter, especially when spoken by university professors and religious scholars, an opinion expressed in a classroom or sermon may become a firm belief held by hundreds of young people, our religious and educational institutions, including Jordan’s General Iftaa’ Department, Ministry of Awqaf, faculties of Sharia, and universities, must do more than condemn terrorism. They must challenge ideas that encourage intolerance and revisit our Islamic legal heritage with respect, but without treating historical interpretations as beyond criticism.

The Amman Message and A Common Word initiative, supported by King Abdullah II, promote respect for religious differences, yet I believe their values have not become sufficiently rooted in education and everyday behaviour, what is the point of teaching students about tolerance if they cannot respect their Christian classmates’ beliefs?.

If I had a say in what our students are taught, I would make sure they learned that Arab Christians have always been part of our language, literature, and culture. Christian poets and writers helped build our shared civilisation, the long history of Christianity in Jordan should be taught as part of our national history, not as the history of another community, our educational curricula need serious discussion and revision.

May God have mercy on the victims of Karak, comfort their families, and protect Jordan from every idea that spreads hatred among its people, the least we owe these victims is to affirm, through our words and actions, that we are equal citizens with equal rights and dignity.

There are no dhimmis or mustaʾmanūn among Jordanian citizens, none of us should need someone else’s protection to live with dignity in our own homeland.