Two deens shall not co-exist in the land of the Arabs !

This is a excerpt from the book ‘Kitab al-Jami’ by one of the greatest Maliki scholars ever lived, Imaam bin Abu Zaid al-Qairawani (310AH-386AH). He quotes Imaam Malik’s view about the following authentic hadeeth from al-Muwatta’ under the heading ‘The banishment of the Jews from Medinah.’ We will only quote the needed material from the section Insha'Allah.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Isma’il bin Abi Hakim that he heard ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul ‘Aziz say, “One of the last things that the Rasoolullaah (saws) said was, ‘May Allah fight the Jews and the Christians. They took the graves of their Prophets as places of prostration. Two deens shall not co-exist in the land of the Arabs.’”

Yahya related to me from Malik from bin Shihab that the Rasoolulllaah (saws) said, “Two deens shall not coexist in the Arabian Peninsula.”

Malik said that bin Shihab said, ”’Umar bin al-Khatab searched for information about that until he was absolutely convinced that the Rasoolullaah (saws) had said, ‘Two deens shall not co-exist in the Arabian Peninsula,’ and he therefore expelled the Jews from Khaybar.”

Malik said “That (Arabian Peninsula) is Makkah, Medinah, Yemen and the land of the Arabs.”

Then ‘Umar expelled the people (Jews) of Najran (place in Yemen). As for the people of Fadak, a treaty had been made with them for a half (of the produce of their land.) Their half was evaluated and he gave them camels, packed saddles and gold for it, and bought it for the Muslims. He expelled the Jews of Khaibar and didn’t take anything away because they didn’t have anything.

Malik said “As for Tayma’, their affair is clear. Between us and them is eleven nights (journey), it is not an Arab land, it is a district of Sham. I believe that the Wadi’s (Wadiul Qura) Jewish inhabitants were left because they didn’t think that it is a land of Arabs.” As for Egypt, Khorasaan and Sham, they were not expelled from there because they are non-Arab lands. Whoever is expelled from places other than Medinah which they had been inhabiting may delay more than three days until they have loaded up. ‘Umar imposed three days on them in Medinah because they were only passer-by.”

Bin Shihab said, “Khaibar (was conquered) by force, and some of it by treaty, and most of the Kateebah by force.”

Malik was asked, “What is the Kateebah?” He said, “The land of Khaibar, which is forty thousand palm trees with their fruits.”