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Jizyah is the Arabic language translation of Poll tax or "head tax". The Jizyah is a per capita tax imposed on males of other faiths under Muslim rule in exchange for the protection of the Muslim community.

Definition

Jizyah was applied to every free male member of the People of the Book, non-Muslim communities living in lands under Muslim rule. The collection of the tax was often the duty of the elders of those communities, mainly Bishops or Priests.

In return, those who pay Jizyah are not required to serve in the military and are considered under the protection of the Muslim state, with certain rights and responsibilities. Non-Muslims are not required to pay zakat, or mandatory charity required of muslims. In addition, if a non-Muslim chose to serve in the army, he would be exempt from jizyah. The poor and disabled were also exempt from jizyah.

History

The jizyah was levied in the time of Prophet Muhammad on vassal tribes under Muslim protection, including Jews in Khaybar, Christians in Najran and Zoroastrians in Bahrain.

Under Caliph Omar the Zoroastrian Persians were given People of the Book status, and jizyah was levied on them. Moreover, Christian Arab tribes in the north of the Arabian Peninsula refused to pay jizyah, but agreed to pay double the amount, and calling it Sadaqah (Charity).

In India, Aurangzeb, the last prominent Mughal Emperor, also levied jizyah on his mostly Hindu subjects in the 1600s. The imposition of Jizyah after it had not been collected by previous emperor's for 117 years, created enormous opposition and sectarian strife which started the decline of the Mughal Empire.

Criticism

The concept of Jizyah has been condemned by some critics of Islam, who characterize it as a form of humiliation and oppression of non-Muslim minorities. These critics note that the imposition of Jizyah has a direct basis in the Qu'ran, being established by Sura 9.29.

Sura 9.29 Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold forbidden that which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

USC Interlinear Koran

Others counter that these criticisms ignore the historical context and that the poll tax was a common practice at the time in most societies.

Resources

Many contemporary Muslim scholars can be cited, including Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Al-Qaradawi's book Non Muslims in Muslim Societies, which discusses many issues, including jizyah, is available online in Arabic on his web site. Bat Ye'or has written about the history and practice of jizyah in her book "Dhimmitude."

External Links

Jizya in Islam by Dr. Monqiz As-Saqqar Ph.D in Christian Doctrines and Scriptures, Faculty of Usul al-Din, Umm al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia. Hosted on http://bismikaallahuma.org/ (Muslim apologetics site)
Jizyah and non-Muslim Minorities Online Fatwa from http://www.islamonline.net/

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 ==Criticism==
-The concept of Jizyah has been criticized by some critics of Islam, who characterize it as a form of humiliation and oppression of non-Muslim minorities. It is claimed that the imposition of Jizyah has a direct basis in the Qu'ran, being established by Sura 9.29.
+The concept of Jizyah has been condemned by some critics of Islam, who characterize it as a form of humiliation and oppression of non-Muslim minorities. These critics note that the imposition of Jizyah has a direct basis in the Qu'ran, being established by Sura 9.29.
 :[[Sura]] 9.29 Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold forbidden that which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.