Blindspot!
From Issue: 753 [Read full issue]
Tolerance
Since the Umayyad dynasty, the Christians had their religious ceremonies beside the public thoroughfares and went in processions on public roads. In these processions, some people bearing crosses led the procession; and their religious leaders, in their special dress, accompanied them.
During the period of Rashid, the Christians on the occasion of Easter came out in the form of a huge procession holding aloft big crosses on pedestals. Al-Maqdisi mentions in his book Ahsan al-Taqasim that on the occasion of the Christian festivals the markets of Shiraz were decorated.
It is amazing to note that these manifestations of tolerance and love were noticable even during the period of the Crusades. This behaviour continued unaltered even though the Christendom had risen against the Islamic countries and had assaulted them with great fury. Ibn Jubary says, "What is most curious about this period is the fact that Muslims and Christians were engaged in a deadly war, and on many occasions it has been witnessed that both armies were facing each other in perfect battle array. However, elsewhere the delegations of Muslim and Christians were moving from one place to another in perfect amity, and meeting with people, and nobody objected to this. The caravans were moving from Egypt to Damascus and from there to European countries. Muslims were paying taxes to the Christians in their lands willingly, and Christian traders were paying the custom duty for their merchandise in the Muslim countries, and full justice and equity was being observed in these dealings. While their armies are fighting with each other, the people were living in perfect amity and peace."
Compiled From:
"The Islamic Civilization" - Mustafa Sibai, pp. 88-90