How did Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) treat minorities under his rule?

The Treaty of Najran is a wonderful example of how the Prophet treated non-Muslims under his rule. By the end of his lifetime, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had emerged as a leader of the Arabian peninsula. Around 631 AD, the Christians of Najran, a valley in the south of Arabia, wanted a peace treaty with the Prophet. A delegation of sixty people came to Madinah to meet the Prophet.

The Prophet spoke to them in a very polite manner, made arrangements for their stay and even allowed them to offer their prayers inside his mosque.

The Christians of Najran simply wanted peace and they left it to the Prophet to specify the terms and conditions of the treaty. They had heard of the Prophet and relied on what they knew of his absolute fairness. The next day, a treaty was signed with the following specifications:

• Najran has the protection of God and the pledges of Muhammad, the Prophet, to protect their lives, faith, land, property, those who are absent and those who are present, and their clan and allies.
• They need not change anything of their past customs.
• No right of theirs or their religion shall be altered. No bishop, monk or church guard shall be removed from his position.
• Whatever they have is theirs, no matter how big or small. They are not held in suspicion and they shall suffer no vengeance killing.
• They are not required to be mobilized and no army shall trespass on their land.
• If any of them requests that any right of his should be given to him, justice shall be administered among them. He who takes usury on past loans is not under my protection.
• No person in Najran is answerable for an injustice committed by another."

Islam lays a lot of emphasis on establishing justice in society. Every term of the above treaty represents the same is the utmost degree. These actions of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) are a reflection of the teachings of the Qur'an. The Qur'an has time over time commanded its followers to always stand up for justice even if it requires standing up against one's own people or family. All these principles are to be upheld by any Muslim, irrespective of religion and sect. 

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