Jizya

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. Those who paid jizyah were exempt from paying Zakat, a tax imposed on Muslims.

Definition

The underlying root meaning of the word jizyah is compensation. It is unclear if the mention of compensation in the Qur'an clearly refers to monetary compensation. The word was later applied to a special tax levied on those who did not accept Islam. There was no amount permanently fixed for it; females, children, the poor, the disabled, monks, and hermits were exempt from it. The Caliph Umar changed the name of jizyah to sadaqah, to improve its connotation from "tribute" to "friendly charity". However, in the modern period, the name jizyah has been used for many years by orientalists, and is well established in certain circles in the United States, Europe, and Australia.

Some English translations of the Koran use the terms "tribute" or "compensation" in place of jizyah. Other translations use English formulations that reflect an understanding of jizyah as a monetary sum. One translation of Sura 9.29 that can be interpreted as establishing jizyah reads:

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

Jizyah was applied to every free male member of the communities known as People of the Book, and/or to non-Muslims living in lands under Muslim rule. Historically, Muslim rulers have also attempted to collect jizyah from Hindus, Sikhs and Zoroastrians under their rule as well. The collection of the tax was often the duty of the elders of those communities.

In return, those who paid 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 zakat, the mandatory charity required of Muslims. If a non-Muslim chose to serve in the army, he was exempt from paying jizyah.

History

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 Umar the Zoroastrian Persians were accorded status as People of the Book, and jizyah was levied on them. Christian Arab tribes in the north of the Arabian Peninsula refused to pay jizyah per se, but agreed to pay double the amount, under the category 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 severe enough to initiate the decline of the Mughal Empire.

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 written about what he considers to be discriminatory and oppressive aspects of jizyah in his book Why I am not a Muslim.

See also

• Dhimmi
• Zakat

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/

Online Fatwa's from http://www.islamonline.net/

Website of Yusuf al-Qaradawi

• Jizyah and non-Muslim Minorities