minorities

As-Salamu `alaykum. We– Muslims living in the west– are faced with the problem of language assimilation. In the West, we either consciously or unconsciously speak a non-Arabic language in an effort to get along with the people around us or under the influence of the context where we live. What is the Islamic view of this problem, and how can we over come it?

One of my Christian friends raised the issue of why Islam dictates that converters from Islam to Christianity be killed while Christians can freely convert to Islam. Can you please comment on this so as to convince people about the Islamic point of view?Also, can you please comment about minority rights in Islamic communities such as practicing their religion and building churches?Finally, can you please comment about Christian rights to make outreach for Christianity as Muslim do outreach (da`wah) for Islam? In other words, do they have the right to make an effort to spread Christianity among Muslims as Muslims are instructed to spread Islam among Christians? Thanks a lot.

There is a scholarly difference nowadays as to fiqh al-aqalliyyat or the fiqh of Muslim minorities. Some scholars regard it as an innovation that manipulates Allah’s religion, and some others consider it a lawful necessity. What is your point of view on that issue with special reference to the concept of fiqh al-aqalliyyat itself? What is the nature of the scholarly difference in that regard?

As-salamu `alaykum. Could you please shed some light on the concept of minorities with special reference to Muslims? How should minorities be treated? What are their rights according to Islam? Thanks.