al-Awza'i's Letter to Salih ibn Ali

al-Baladhuri, quoting Abu Ubayd al-Qasim ibn Sallam, relates a letter that al-Awza'i wrote to the governor Salih ibn Ali, arguing against the expulsion of the protected non-Muslims (ahl al-dhimma) from Mount Lebanon. ¹

People on Mount Lebanon rose up and complained about the tax collector of Baalbek. When Salih ibn Ali learned that the Byzantines were supporting them, he sent men who killed their fighters, left the rest of them in their religion, and returned them to their villages. He expelled some of the people of Lebanon. ¹

al-Awza'i wrote a long letter, of which al-Qasim ibn Sallam preserved what al-Baladhuri transmits. In it he says that some of those expelled from among the protected non-Muslims had not supported the rebels. He asks how the common people can be held to account for the sins of the elite, so that they are driven from their homes and property. ¹

al-Awza'i grounds his letter in the judgement of God and in the Prophet ﷺ's charge concerning covenanted non-Muslims (mu'ahadun). He reports that he would be the opponent of anyone who wrongs a covenanted non-Muslim or burdens him beyond his capacity. The report contains further words that were not transmitted. No verse text is written here; its location needs an additional source. ¹

The letter bears on the rulings of dhimma. In al-Awza'i's view it includes the principle that there is no collective punishment for an individual sin. ¹

The data gives no date for the event; it needs an additional source.