מסמך שלטוני: T-S 13J7.29

A petition was submitted by the Rabbanite Jewish Community to the Court of the Commander of the Faithful in which they requested that they be treated in accordance with the exalted document which had been issued on their behalf, to the effect that their rabbis should be enabled to fulfill the commandments of their faith and the customary usages of their ancestors in their houses of worship, and that they be free to serve their communities in Jerusalem, Ramle, and other cities. Furthermore, that anyone be restrained who purposes to them that which is not in accordance with the justice of the Empire, or tries to impose upon them that which is contrary to established practice; that there be desistance from any opposition to the observance of their holidays and the performance of their rites on them; and that any of their opponents who try to alter this state of affairs be checked.

Therefore, the Commander of the Faithful has commanded that an open decree be issued, in which it is stated that neither of the two Jewish communities, namely the Rabbanites and the Karaites, are to be allowed to interfere with each other. All the adherents of these two denominations should be enabled to follow the customary usages of their faith without any interference from the other denomination. The Karaites cannot be allowed to obstruct the way of Rabbanite communal leaders by keeping them away from the districts of Jerusalem and Ramle. Businessmen of both communities should be allowed to follow their own customary usages, as they wish, with regard to the conduct of business or abstention therefrom on their holidays.

Both communities should beware contravening this order. They should know that anyone who violates or trespasses will be severely punished as a restraint to them and a deterrent to others.

It was deemed necessary to write you . . . that you should exercise extreme care not to show any preference or partiality. You are to arrest anyone who contravenes this order and report the affair. Take cognizance of that which the Commander of the Faithful has apprised you, and act in strict accordance with it and with its intent—God willing.

Peace.

1. In Your name.
2. There was submitted to the Presence, the commander of the faithful, a petition in the name (ruqʿa mutarjama)
3. of the community of Rabbanite Jews, in which they ask 
4. to be treated according to the noble decree (sijill mukarram) 
5. registered on their behalf (muktatab lahum), namely, that their ḥaverim (aḥbāruhum) be able 
6. to fulfill the requirements of their religious practices and their ancient customs (furūḍ diyānatihim wa-sālif sunanihim) 
7. in their synagogues and to serve 
8. their communities in Jerusalem, Ramla, and other 
9. places; that those who interfere with them should be stopped, 
10. as this is not compatible with the justice of the government (ʿadl al-dawla);
11. that they (those who interfere with them)  should not be given a free hand to do what is not in accordance with established usage; 
12. that they should not be disturbed on their holidays 
13. or while they hold their services on them; and that those among their adversaries
14. who do such things should be checked. Therefore the Commander 
15. of the Faithful has ordered the writing of a decree (manshūran) entailing the checking of 
16. each of the two Jewish groups, the 
17. Rabbanites and the Qaraites, that they should not interfere with one 
18. another; and all who belong to one of these 
19. two schools be allowed to conduct themselves according to the customs 
20. taught in their religious schools (diyānātihim) without the harassment 
21. of one of the two parties against the other.
22. The Qaraites should not harass 
23. the leaders of the Rabbanites by expelling them from the districts 
24. of Jerusalem and Palestine, and the merchants of the two parties 
25. should conduct themselves according to 
26. their customs with regard to transactions of buying and selling, 
27. or abstaining from such according to their wishes on 
28. their holidays. Each of the two groups shall beware 
29. of acting against the provisions of this order (ḥukm). 
30. Let it be known that anyone who disobeys or trespasses 
31. will be subject to heavy punishment, which will deter him and discourage 
32. others. It was deemed necessary to address you (the lower official) about them (the two groups of Jews) so that 
33. you should exercise the utmost caution not to show any preference
34. or partiality, and that you arrest anyone who 
35. contravenes this edict (maʾmūr), and that you report to me his situation.
36. Be cognizant of what the Commander of the Faithful has communicated to you 
37. and pay attention to what he has commanded you, 
38. and act in accordance with it and on the basis of it, if God wills.
39. ...