The Ashtiname (Persian: Āštī-nāmeh; Peace-Book/Letter of Reconciliation) — Islamic/Syriac Corpus Segment: Covenant with the Monks of Saint Catherine’s Monastery (Mt. Sinai)
Auzubillah Minashaitan Nirajeem. Bismillahi Rahmani Raheem
• Preamble and Universal Scope of the Covenant
[1] This is a writ (kitāb; k-t-b, stitch/mark → decree/scripture) written by Muhammad ibn Abdullah to all people as a bringer of good tidings and a warner (bashīran wa nadhīran; b-š-r, peel/skin → flush with joy → news; n-dh-r, vow/warn) entrusted with the Deposit of God (wadīʿat Allāh; w-d-ʿ, to place/leave → trust/deposit) so that men should have no plea against God [prophetic finality establishes legal certainty]. [2] To those of the Christian Religion (millat an-naṣārā; m-l-l, dictate → creed/community) in East and West, near and far, Arab and non-Arab (ʿajam; indistinct speech → foreigner): I place them under my protection [universal jurisdiction claimed for this dhimmah].
• The Pledge of Defense and Liability
[3] I defend them (adhubbu; dh-b-b, to repel/drive away flies → defend vigorously) for they are my citizens and my flock (raʿiyyatī; r-ʿ-y, to graze/tend → subjects/parish) against all that displeases them; no compulsion is to be on them (lā ikrāha; k-r-h, to detest → force/coerce) [rejection of forced conversion or social pressure]. [4] No judge shall be removed from his judgeship, nor monk from his monasticism (ruhbāniyyatihi; r-h-b, fear/awe → ascetic life), nor hermit from his tower (ṣawmaʿah; high tapering structure → cell) [preservation of ecclesiastical hierarchy and infrastructure].
• Inviolability of Sacred Spaces
[5] No one shall destroy a house of their religion (bayt; b-y-t, spend the night → dwelling/temple), nor damage it, nor carry anything from it to the Muslims' houses [prohibition of spoliation]. [6] Should anyone do so, he has violated the Covenant of God (dhimmat Allāh; dh-m-m, blame/liability → divine pact) and disobeyed His Prophet [sacrilege equated with treason].
• Exemptions and Social Rights
[7] They are not to be burdened with the poll-tax (jizya; j-z-y, to compensate/satisfy → tribute) or supplies save what is voluntary; their building enterprises shall be aided (yuʿāwanūna; ʿ-w-n, help/support) [state subsidy for church repair]. [8] If a Christian woman enters a Muslim household (taṣīru ilā; ṣ-y-r, to become/go to → marriage) it shall not be done save by her will; she shall not be prevented from praying in her church [protection of interfaith spousal worship rights].
• Perpetuity and Curse upon Violators
[9] No one of the Nation (ummah; ʾ-m-m, to aim at/mother → community) is to disobey this covenant until the Last Day (yawn al-qiyāmah; q-w-m, to stand/rise → Resurrection) [eschatological binding]. [10] Whoever contradicts this writ violates the covenant of God and is deserving of His curse (laʿnah; l-ʿ-n, to drive away/banish) whether he be a Sultan or a commoner [absolute accountability beyond rank].
• Exemption from Military Obligations and Burdens
[11] None of them shall be compelled to bear arms (ḥaml as-silāḥ; s-l-ḥ, item/tool → weapon) or to fight; rather the Muslims shall defend them (yudāfiʿū; d-f-ʿ, to push/repel → defend) and constitute a shield for them against the enemy [vicarious defense doctrine: clergy exempt from conscription; state assumes total security risk]. [12] No land-tax (kharāj; k-h-r-j, to come out → produce → tax on agricultural yield) shall be taken from their crops, nor tithes from their honey, nor from the resources of their mountains [fiscal immunity specific to monastic production].
• Social Etiquette and Dispute Resolution
[13] Do not dispute with them except in the most excellent manner (illā bi-llatī hiya aḥsan; Qur’anic echo 29:46) and lower the wing of mercy unto them (raḥmah; r-ḥ-m, womb → visceral bond → grace); leave them not to be overwhelmed by burdens [mandate for civil discourse and protection from bureaucratic harassment].
• The Witnesses and Scribe
[14] Witnessed to this ordinance which Muhammad the Messenger of God wrote (kataba; k-t-b, stitch/record) for the Christians: Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (ṣ-d-q, truth/confirm), Umar ibn al-Khattab (khaṭṭāb, orator/decisive), Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali ibn Abi Talib [invocation of the Rashidun Caliphs to bind future consensus]. [15] And written by Ali ibn Abi Talib with his own hand (bi-khaṭṭ yadihi) in the Mosque of the Prophet (Masjid an-Nabī) on the 3rd of Muharram, year 2 of the Hijra [colophon claiming direct apostolic authorship].
[16] Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds. (Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīn) It is finished.