Jizya: Difference between revisions
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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. The concept of taxation imposed on the basis of religion or sex runs counter to the ideals of the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]] (Articles 1,2, and 7) and many other [[International human rights instruments]]. Such taxation would be unconstitutional in almost all modern countries. |
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. The concept of taxation imposed on the basis of religion or sex runs counter to the ideals of the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]] (Articles 1,2, and 7) and many other [[International human rights instruments]]. Such taxation would be unconstitutional in almost all modern countries. |
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''Jizyah'', being a [[fixed]] per capita tax is a [[regressive tax]], meaning that ''jizyah'' takes a larger percentage of income from people whose income is low. In comparison the ''[[zakat]]'' is a [[Flat_tax|proportional]] [[wealth (net worth) tax|asset tax]] with a minimum wealth exemption, the ''[[nisab]]'', to correct for issues of [[marginal utility|diminishing marginal utility]] of money.<!--Can we have some description of who makes these criticisms? Otherwise they are original research--> |
''Jizyah'', being a [[fixed]] per capita tax is a [[regressive tax]], meaning that ''jizyah'' takes a larger percentage of income from people whose income is low. In comparison the ''[[zakat]]'' is a [[Flat_tax|proportional]] [[wealth (net worth) tax|asset tax]] with a minimum wealth exemption, the ''[[nisab]]'', to correct for issues of [[marginal utility|diminishing marginal utility]] of money.<!--Can we have some description of who makes these criticisms? Otherwise they are original research--><!-- This comes from the definition of [[regressive tax]], [[zakat]], [[flat_tax]] etc. Exemptions as a correction for diminishing marginal utility, is common knowledge in tax theory. etc[[User:Klonimus|Klonimus]] 00:09, 7 May 2005 (UTC) --> |
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Others counter that these criticisms ignore the historical context. Poll taxes were a common practice at the time in most societies, because they are easy to collect, and hard to [[Tax evasion|evade]]. It should be noted modern conceptions of [[human rights]], such as the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]] did not exist at the time ''jizyah'' was levied.<!--Can we have some description of who makes these defences? Otherwise they are original research--> |
Others counter that these criticisms ignore the historical context. Poll taxes were a common practice at the time in most societies, because they are easy to collect, and hard to [[Tax evasion|evade]]. It should be noted modern conceptions of [[human rights]], such as the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]] did not exist at the time ''jizyah'' was levied.<!--Can we have some description of who makes these defences? Otherwise they are original research--> |
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Revision as of 00:09, 7 May 2005
Jizyah is the Arabic language translation of Poll tax or "head tax". 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
The imposition of jizyah upon non-Muslims is established by Sura 9.29 of the Qur'an:
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.
Some English translations of the Qur'an translate jizyah as "tribute". Other translations prefer to render Islamic terms, such as jizyah, as transliterated Arabic.
Jizyah was applied to every free male member of the People of the Book, and/or non-Muslim living in lands under Muslim rule. Historically Muslim rulers also attempted to collect jizyah from Hindus,Sikhs and Zoroastrians under their rule. The collection of the tax was often the duty of the elders of those communities.
In return, those who paid the jizyah were not required to serve in the military and were considered under the protection of the Muslim state, with certain rights and responsibilities. Non-Muslims were not required to pay the zakat, or mandatory charity required of Muslims. In addition, if a non-Muslim chose to serve in the army, he would be exempt from the jizyah.
History
Jizyah was levied in the time of Muhammad on vassal tribes under Muslim protection, including Jews in Khaybar, Christians in Najran and Zoroastrians in Bahrain. The hadith of Bukhari, and Tarmethi record that Muhammad himself levied jizyah upon the Majoos, a tribe of Zoroastrians.
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, levied jizyah on his mostly Hindu subjects in the 1600s. The imposition of jizyah, after it had not been collected by previous emperors for 117 years, created enormous opposition and sectarian strife which started the decline of the Mughal Empire.
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. The concept of taxation imposed on the basis of religion or sex runs counter to the ideals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 1,2, and 7) and many other International human rights instruments. Such taxation would be unconstitutional in almost all modern countries.
Jizyah, being a fixed per capita tax is a regressive tax, meaning that jizyah takes a larger percentage of income from people whose income is low. In comparison the zakat is a proportional asset tax with a minimum wealth exemption, the nisab, to correct for issues of diminishing marginal utility of money.
Others counter that these criticisms ignore the historical context. Poll taxes were a common practice at the time in most societies, because they are easy to collect, and hard to evade. It should be noted modern conceptions of human rights, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights did not exist at the time jizyah was levied.
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." Ibn Warraq has described jizyah as discriminatory and oppressive in his book Why I am not a Muslim.
See also
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)
Online Fatwa's from http://www.islamonline.net/
Website of Yusuf al-Qaradawi
- Jizyah and non-Muslim Minorities
- The Fair Logic of Jizyah
- Jizyah, Jihad… or Islam?! "If the non-Muslim community - after rejecting Islam - refused to agree to the Jizyah, then the only option left is fighting."