Further Clarification on the Divine Law Relating to Messengers

Question

Thank you for your response. I would like you to clarify my following doubts.

Was the divine law relating to messengers applicable to Magians, Sabians etc and other creeds which ascribed to polytheistic beliefs in Arabia? What was their fate after the revelation of Surah At-Taubah?
Could you provide evidences that the Divine law pertaining to Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) was extended to his companions also?
Can we at present times allow polytheist to live in Arabia (including Mecca, Medina) now and allow them to construct their idol worship places and to practice their religion? If Islam does not allow this, does this not mean that the Divine law is extended even to us?

Regards

Answer

My answers to your questions follow:

In the first stage – that is, through the person of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) – the Divine law relating to the Messengers of God was implemented on all the creeds living in the Arabian Peninsula. Not a single creed living within the boundaries of the Peninsula was exempted from this law. All people ascribing to polytheism were subjected to the death penalty while all the other creeds were subjected to the political subservience of the Muslims, in case of their refusal to accept Islam;
The position that the Qur’an has given to the companions of the Prophet (pbuh) in verses Al-Baqarah 2: 142 and Al-Hajj 22: 78 and a few other similar verses¹ clearly implies, in a way, the extension of the law to the companions of the Messenger (pbuh);
Muslims are not allowed to even let polytheists enter the boundaries of the Haram. This element cannot be termed as an extension of the Divine law to the present-day Muslims. The referred Divine law did not merely disallow the polytheists from entering the boundaries of the Haram, it meant the complete extinction of the polytheists and the subjugation of the other creeds.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Moiz Amjad
July 5, 2002