It’s innate, isn’t it? This desire to be over others, to dominate; to be known as better, stronger, above. In many young sibling groups the bossiness rolls down the ages like water, pooling frustratingly in the baby!
Of course, whole peoples do this and whatever people you belong to, there’s probably some guilt there in the near or distant past. God knows how Americans have, and are exercising this desire for good and ill.
In Islam, a particular form of the domination desire is codified in the Quran in Sura 9:29, “Fight those who do not believe in Allah nor in the Last Day, and do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, and do not practice the religion of truth, of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the jizya readily and are disgraced.”
The practice is called dhimmitude (those on whom it is practiced are called dhimmi) and it answers the tricky question of what to do with Jews and Christians who refuse to convert to Islam when their territory is conquered. As “People of the Book,” they’re God’s friends, so you probably shouldn’t kill them! Instead they are charged a special tax called jizya, but relieved of paying the religious tithe, zakat and fighting in wars.
That might be a fair trade, but for the addition of “are disgraced.” In both historic and current application, Jews and Christians are treated as second class citizens.
Some of you know what it’s like to be treated as second class citizens. The closest I’ve come was being a non-athlete in high school. If the feelings I remember are any indication, the real thing really sucks. I’m sorry for whatever way I’ve contributed to that reality for you.
So how might we respond to this dhimmitude reality?
1. We pray for Jews and Christians for whom this is life. We ask God for justice to prevail and for perseverance, grace and kingdom of God confidence for all who follow Jesus in challenging situations. And 2. We do our best not to participate in or allow any amateur dhimmitude where we live. We do our best to treat Muslims, and all others, as the creations of a loving God that they are, bearing his image and made for his glory.