The Status of Religious Minorities in the Ottoman State (858-971 AH / 1453-1566 CE)

Abstract

the treatment of other religious minorities by Muslims throughout history has been in accordance with Islamic law. Muslims who bear the responsibility of treating people with kindness considered that they had inherited this responsibility from their Prophet. Islamic society is based on a specific creed and ideology from which its systems, and customs emanate. This creed is Islami, and this is the meaning of calling it an  islamic society a society that has adopted Islam its way of life. However, this does not mean that Muslim society condemns to annihilation all those living within it who adhere to other faiths. Rather,it establishes a relationshiwith them pasedontolerancy،justice, and mercy—prinicpi unknown to humanity before Islam.Treatment and legislation governed the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslim minorities during the time of the Prophet, the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and subsequently the Umayyad and Abbasids, up to the Ottoman era. The Ottoman legal system categories residents in Islamic kingdoms into three groups based on their religion and national affiliation: Muslims, dhimmis (protected non-Muslims), and musta'mins (those granted safe passage). These groups enjoyed the same rights and freedoms as Muslims, with a few exceptions.