The security of life and property, and freedom of religion are ensured to non-Muslim minorities who are styled ‘Dhimmi’, the protected of God and the Prophet.’
Beware’ I proclaimed the Prophet, ‘I shall myself be complainant, on the Day of Resurrection, against him who wrongs a ‘Dhimmi’ or lays on him a responsibility greater than he can bear or deprives him of anything that belongs to him.’
(Al-Mawardi, Al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyah, p. 137) So mindful was the Prophet of their safety and welfare that a few moments before he expired, the thought of the ‘Dhimmi’ came to him and he said: ‘Any Muslim who kills a Dhimmi has not the slightest chance of catching even the faintest smell of heaven.
Protect them; they are my Dhimmis’ (Bukhari). The Caliph Umar also exclaimed in the same manner, as he lay assassinated:
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“To him who will be the Caliph after me, I commend my wish and testament! The ‘Dhimmis’ are protected of God and the Prophet.
Respect the covenant entered into with them, and when necessary fight for their interests and do not place on them burden or responsibility which they caqnot bear”. (Bukhari)
In sum, non-Muslims, in the Islamic states, constitute a protected minority and it becomes the duty of the state to protect their person, property ahd honour.
They are not to be defamed and the jurists are agreed on this point that he who violates a non- Muslim woman is to be punished as if he violated a Muslim woman.