Question

What alternatives does Mohammad offer to the leader of the Christian Arab tribe?

Answer 1

Muhammad issued a document known as The Constitution of Medina (in 622-623), which specifies the terms in which other factions, particularly Jews, could live within the new Islamic state. According to this system, Jews and Christians were allowed to maintain their religion by paying a tribute: Jizya or jizyah (not so to practitioners of religions considered pagan). This system would typify the relationship between Muslims and dhimmis, and this tradition is the reason for the relative stability that normally existed in Arab caliphates.