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"In the name of Allah, the merciful
Benefactor! This is the assurance granted to the inhabitants
of Aelia by the servant of God, 'Umar, the commander
of the Believers. He grants them safety for their persons,
their goods, churches, crosses - be they in good or
bad condition - and their worship in general. Their
churches shall neither be turned over to dwellings nor
pulled down; they and their dependents shall not be
put to any prejudice and thus shall it fare with their
crosses and goods. No constraint shall be imposed upon
them in matters of religion and no one among them shall
be harmed. No Jew shall be authorised to live in Aelia
with them. The inhabitants of Aelia must pay the gizya
in the same way as the inhabitants of other towns. It
is for them to expel from their cities Roums (Byzantians)
and outlaws. Those of the latter who leave shall be
granted safe conduct... Those who would stay shall be
authorised to, on condition that they pay the same gizya
as the inhabitants of Aelia. Those of the inhabitants
of Aelia who wish to leave with the Roums, to carry
away their goods, abandon their churches and Crosses,
shall likewise have their own safe conduct, for themselves
and for their Crosses. Rural dwellers (ahl 'I-ard) who
were already in the town before the murder of such a
one, may stay and pay the gizya by the same title as
the people of Aelia, or if they prefer they may leave
with the Roums or return to their families. Nothing
shall be exacted of them.
Witnesses: Khaledb.A1-Walid, 'Amrb.A1-Alp,
'Abdar-Rahmanb. 'Awf Muawiya b. Abi Sufyan, who wrote
these words, here, In the year15 (33).
*Ref: http://www.mideastweb.org/covenantofomar.htm
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