Page 11 - Pakistan Link - July 16, 2021

OPINION JULY 16, 2021 – PAKISTAN LINK – P11

Cantemir personally presented the original firman he himself confessed on June 10, 1815, “I cannot

of Sultan Selim to vizier ‘Alī Köprülü. The high live without books.”

official of the Ottomans kissed it reverently and Although the US Founding Documents were
ordered that the church be protected (Runciman the product of multifarious sources, and form part
191). Cantemir, a European Christian ally of the of a historical trajectory, they contain traces of
Turkish Muslims, put the Covenant of the Prophet Islamic influences. The Declaration of Indepen-

into practice. dence proclaims that “We hold these truths to be
Thomas Jefferson also owned a copy of the Ec- self-evident, that all men are created equal, that

clesiastical History of Johann Lorenz von Mosheim they are endowed by their Creator with certain
(1693-1755) which mentions the Covenants of the unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Prophet. Referencing Assemani, Mosheim notes Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

that “Jesujabus, the sovereign pontiff of the Nesto- The Founding Fathers discussed and debated

rians, concluded a treaty first with Mohammed the proper name that should be used to describe

and afterwards with Omar, and obtained many the Divinity, such as God or Jesus; however, they

advantages for his sect” (254). ultimately selected the term Creator which, con-
Mosheim also mentions the Covenant of the sciously or unconsciously, was in keeping with
Prophet Muhammad with the Monks of Mount Si- the Qur’an, the first two verses, as translated by

nai. Although he was convinced that it was a fraud, George Sale, refer to “thy Lord, who hath cre-
he admitted that “the Mohammedans … believed ated all things; who hath created man.” Created/
it was a genuine ordinance of their prophet, and Creator appear twice at the start of the Declaration

they believe so still” (254, note 5).” (The reader of Independence. Created/created appear twice in

should note that the accusation that the Covenants the first revealed verses of the Qur’an. In this are
of the Prophet were fraudulent has been soundly signs for men and women of understanding.

refuted in The Covenants of the Prophet Muham- The Declaration of Independence, the Con-
mad with the Christians of the World [Angelico/ Ottoman domestic and foreign policy was in- which goes into more detail, was submitted to the stitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights
Sophia Perennis, 2013], and in the 3-volume an- spired. US Congress and US Senate in 1921. It is repro- enshrine the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit
thology Islam and the People of the Book [Cam- duced in Senate Documents, volume 9, which was of happiness. They call for freedom of religion;

bridge Scholars, 2017].) The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad also published by the US government. freedom of speech; and freedom of onerous taxa-

The German Lutheran scholar also discusses and US Diplomacy In 1935, during the presidency of Franklin D. tion. They provide the right to property, the right
the Covenant of the Prophet Muhammad with the When it comes to knowledge of the Cov- Roosevelt, the thirty-second president of the Unit- to a fair trial, the right to bear arms, and the right

Christians of the World. As he explains, “There is enants of the Prophet, Thomas Jefferson was not ed States, who served from 1933 until his death in to petition the government for a redress of griev-

likewise an extant injunction or Testament, as it the exception. The Covenants of the Prophet were 1945, the Prophet Muhammad was honored by ances. They prohibit excessive fines along with

is commonly called, that is, a diploma of Moham- required reading for European and American dip- the Supreme Court as one of the eighteen greatest cruel and unusual punishments. They create a
med himself, in which he promises full security lomats in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Alex- lawgivers of the world alongside Moses, Solomon, Union, establish justice, tranquility, general wel-

to all Christians living under his dominion; and andre de Miltitz (1785-1843), the former minister Confucius, Hammurabi, and others. “As the Unit- fare, and the blessings of liberty. They provide for
though some learned men doubt the authenticity of the Prussian king to the Ottoman Empire, in- ed States Supreme Court judges sit in their cham- political representation and democratic consulta-
of this instrument, yet the Mohammedans do not cluded a copy of the Covenant of the Prophet Mu- ber,” notes Abdul Malik Mujahid, “to their right, tion. These rights, freedoms, and political prin-

call it into question” (254). hammad with the Christians of the World in his front, and the left sides are friezes” of these lumi- ciples are all found in the Qur’an, the Constitution
Although Mosheim doubted the authenticity Manuel des Consuls or Consular Manual which naries, including one of the Prophet Muhammad, of Medina, and the Covenants of the Prophet Mu-

of the document, he recognized that it was com- was published in 1838 (495-499). holding the Qur’an in his left hand and a sword in hammad.
pletely in keeping with the early actions of the Likewise, Edward A. Van Dyck, a consular his right hand, symbolizing law and justice. Where was there religious freedom in the
Prophet Muhammad. What is more, he reported clerk of the United States in Cairo, Egypt, included 18th century? Who was espousing the principle

that the Muslims unanimously acknowledge it to a translation of and commentary on the Covenant The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad of religious tolerance and pluralism? Apart from
be genuine (254, note 5). “However dubious the of the Prophet in his Capitulations of the Ottoman and the History of Human Rights brief moments of illumination, namely, the Edict

Testament may be,” he admits, “the subject matter Empire in 1881. In his book on diplomacy, Van The United Nations traces the history of hu- of Milan in 313, the Union of Utretch of 1579, and
of it is not doubtful. For learned men have proved Dyke presented the Covenant of the Prophet as a man rights back to Cyrus the Great in the year the Edict of Nantes of 1598, religious intolerance

by powerful arguments, that Mohammed original- political model for the United States of America 539 BC. After conquering Babylon, Cyrus “freed was the norm in much of the Western world for

ly would allow no injury to be offered to the Chris- and the rest of the world. It was, very much, a mas- the slaves, declared that all people had the right to most of recorded history. As Denise A. Spellberg
tians, and especially to the Nestorians” (254, note terpiece of diplomacy, an exemplary manifestation choose their own religion, and established racial has shown, there were some positive European
5). Mosheim describes the document as follows: of tolerance, and an inspiring exposition of civil equality” (Acciona). The UN lists the succeeding Christian precedents for the toleration of Muslims

This Testament is a formal compact between and human rights. In his words: major milestones of human rights, from Cyrus to in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, including the

Mohammed, on the one part, and the Nestori- In the beginning of his rule, Muhammad… the present, as the Magna Carta of 1215, the Eng- writings of Michael Servetus, Sebastian Castellio,
ans and Monophysites on the other. He promises everywhere proclaimed the principles of tolera- lish Bill of Rights of 1689, the French Declaration Sebastian Franck, Thomas Helwys, Roger Wil-

to them his protection, and they promise to him tion toward every kind of religion, and particularly of the Rights of Man and Citizen of 1789, the US liams, John Locke, and Henry Stubbe (1632-1676)
loyalty and obedience. He promises them entire toward the Christians… By this adroit policy he Constitution and Bill of Rights of 1791, and the (41-80).
religious freedom; and they promise him sup- wished to conciliate the Christians in his favor and Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. Henry Stubbe, like most scholars of time,
port against his enemies. Mohammed might have assure them that he did not threaten their religion. But what about the Babylonian Code of was familiar with the Covenants of the Prophet.
deemed it sound policy to conclude such a treaty To still further guarantee to them the free exer- Hammurabi, the Torah, the Qur’an, the Analects Although his Account of the Rise and Progress of
with these sectaries; that by their aid he might cise of their worship, and his entire toleration of it of Confucius, the Inca and Aztec Codes of Con- Mahometanism was not formally published, it was
subdue the countries of Asia subject to the Greek throughout his realm, he made a treaty with them. duct and the Iroquois Constitution? And what widely disseminated in manuscript form among
emperors. (255, note 5) It is entitled Testamentum et pactiones initae inter about the Constitution of Medina and the Cov- European and American intellectuals of the time

Thomas Jefferson equally owned a copy of Mahomeddum et Christianae fidei cultores and was enants of the Prophet Muhammad with the People (Spellberg 68). Stubbe argues that the Prophet’s
Thomas Salmon’s (1679-1767) Modern History or printed in Latin and in Arabic at Paris in 1630. of the Book? Let us give credit where credit is due. Oath to the Christians dated from immediately

the Present State of All Nations which also provides This treaty should be considered as a masterpiece before the hijrah. “The Christians,” he explains,

a detailed account of the granting of the Covenant of political forethought, and as a rare monument The Influence of the Covenants of the “entertained a favorable opinion of [Muhammad],

of the Prophet to the monks of Mount Sinai. Salm- of wisdom, morality, and toleration. (85) Prophet Muhammad on Thomas Jefferson resorted to him and recommended themselves to

on makes an important observation. The account This report was completed in response to a When Thomas Jefferson searched for princi- his most benign protection, and took a cartel of
of the Ashtiname has been transmitted, not only by resolution from the United States Senate. It was or- ples, he consulted ancient history, modern history, security from him” (130).
the Christians of the Sinai, but also by the Muslims dered to be printed, and shared with the Senate, by foreign history, ecclesiastical history, philosophy, In Stubbe’s analysis, “The Christians, who

of the Sinai. Both communities confirm the tradi- James A. Garfield (1831-1881), the twentieth Pres- morals, ethics, law of nations, religion, jurispru- had been so persecuted by Chosroes, and finding
tion in question. As he relates, ident of the United States, on April 6, 1881. James dence, common law, religious jurisprudence, for- their condition very uncertain among the Arabi-

The monastery of St Katherine’s at the foot of G. Blaine (1830-1893), the Secretary of State, de- eign law, politics, ancient and modern, theories of ans, humors or interests of the governors, were

Sinai, the Greeks have been in possession of up- scribed the report as being “of interest and value.” government, geography, literature, poetry, fables, very glad of his rise and magnified his undertak-
wards of a thousand years, being given them by He wrote that it threw much light “on the treaty elegies, didactic literature, logic, and criticism. ing. (131-132). In sharp contrast to the Islamopho-

some of the Greek Emperors: the Arabs, it seems, rights of the United States as based on ‘the most Thomas Jefferson was an avid book collec- bic attitude that prevailed at the time, one which

suffered them to enjoy it peaceably till very lately, favored nation’ treatment accorded in the existing tor and reader. He had, at the time, the largest presented the Prophet as an aggressor and an op-
on account of the great hospitality they always met treaty with Turkey” (1). personal library in the United States. He loved his pressor, Stubbe set the facts straight: “Muhammad

with here; though they have a tradition, that when American officials were still discussing the library collection. However, he offered to sell it to persecuted none for religion, who believed in God

this monastery was in its most flourishing condi- Covenant of the Prophet in the early twentieth the Library of Congress after its collection was de- and the Day of Judgment, so lest of all the Chris-

tion, Mahomet served the monks in the quality century. G. Bie Ravndal, the American Consul stroyed by the British in 1814. After it was packed tians, who… enjoyed more of his favors than
of a camel driver, and that an eagle hovering over General at Constantinople, wrote about it in Th e and shipped, he commented that “an interesting any of the other religions” (Spellberg 68).

Mahomet’s head as he slept, the abbot foretold Origin of the Capitulations and of the Consular In- treasure is added to your city, now become the Whether Thomas Jefferson was directly in-
his future greatness, desiring he would be king stitution, an official publication of the US govern- depository of unquestionably the choicest collec- fluenced by the writings and thoughts of Henry

to them when he should be advanced, which he ment. In the words of the author, tion of books in the US, and I hope it will not be Stubbe is unclear. What seems more certain is

promised: and afterwards, being vested with the Reputable historians speak of a capitulation without some general effect on the literature of our that he absorbed the ideas of the Enlightenment

authority of a Prince, he confirmed them in the dating back to the days of Mohammed, who is said country” (Library of Congress). movement which promoted the idea of religious

enjoyment of their house and all the lands belong- to have granted the Christians certain privileges There are those who might claim that the fact tolerance. The Founding Fathers may have been
ing to it, obliging his successors and disciples not contained in a document called the ‘Testament that Thomas Jefferson had a Qur’an and accounts inspired by Voltaire, Montesquieu and Rous-

to disturb them… (389) of Mohammed’ …In it Mohammed promises to of the Covenants of the Prophet does not mean seau, as well as John Locke, who called for civil

Not only did Thomas Jefferson have a copy of protect the magistrates (judges) of the Christians that he read them or was influenced by them. As rights for Jews and Muslims in his seminal Letter

the Qur’an, along with accounts of the Covenants in his provinces ‘with my foot and horse, with my our efforts to unearth additional insights into Jef- on Toleration; however, they also appear to have

of the Prophet, he had numerous books on Mus- auxiliaries, and with the believers that follow me…’ ferson’s thinking and sources of inspiration con- been inspired by the Prophet Muhammad. Out-
lim history, including works that featured Turkish Miltitz, who prints the text in French translations, tinue, merely rejecting the possibility of his access side of the Covenants of the Prophet, where else
treaties, all of which were directly inspired by the give the credence to the genuineness of this treaty to these sources would be an injustice. As the Li- was religious pluralism so eloquently expressed?

Ashtiname, the Covenant of the Prophet Muham- (as do other trusted students). (12) brary of Congress recognizes, “books were vital to The discovery that Thomas Jefferson was fa-

mad with the Monks of Mount Sinai upon which This report on the Covenant of the Prophet, Thomas Jefferson’s education and well-being.” As COVENANTS, P21

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