Book reference: p.89 — "What are the rights of citizens in an Islamic state?"

Categories of Citizens

• Muslim citizens: full political, religious and civic rights and obligations.
• Non-Muslim citizens (Dhimmis): protected minorities historically guaranteed security, religious freedom and property rights in exchange for Jizyah (in lieu of military service) — see Charter of Medina, Theme VII.

Core Rights of Citizens

• Right to security of life, honour and property — declared "sacred" in the Farewell Sermon.
• Right to justice before an independent judiciary (see Theme VI).
• Right to religious freedom (2:256).
• Right to basic economic welfare through the state's Zakat/Bait-ul-Mal obligations (9:60).
• Right to political participation through Shura/Bay'ah (see Theme VI).
• Right to hold the ruler accountable — e.g. the public questioning of Caliph Umar (RA) over his garment allocation.
• Right to freedom of expression, within the bounds of truth and public order — exemplified by companions freely questioning and correcting rulers.

Qur'anic Evidence

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إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ

اردو: بےشک اللہ تمہیں حکم دیتا ہے کہ امانتیں ان کے اہل تک پہنچاؤ، اور جب لوگوں کے درمیان فیصلہ کرو تو انصاف کے ساتھ کرو۔

English: "Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and, when you judge between people, to judge with justice."

— Surah An-Nisa 4:58

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Hadith Evidence

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مَنْ آَذَى ذِمِّيًا فَأَنَا خَصْمُهُ

اردو: جس نے کسی ذمی (غیر مسلم شہری) کو اذیت دی، میں اس کا مخالف ہوں گا۔

English: "Whoever wrongs a Dhimmi [protected non-Muslim citizen], I will be his opponent [on the Day of Judgement]."

— Sunan Abu Dawud 3052

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CSS Exam Tips

• Explicitly divide the answer into Muslim citizens and non-Muslim (Dhimmi) citizens — examiners specifically test this distinction.
• Cite the Charter of Medina as the operative historical model.
• Cross-reference: The Madina Accord as a Social Contract (Theme VII), System of Accountability (Theme VI).