Jizya in Islam
Saying that the primary motive for Christians and Jews to join Islam was their incapability to afford “Jizya” is a big lie, said Researcher “Khalid Harbi”, Director of the “Islamic Observer Center”, he assured that this claim is inconsistent with the most basic facts of history, as Islam was not the first religion to pre-ordain “Jizya”, also Muslims were not the first nation to levy “Jizya” unto the peoples subdued by them; Victorious nations throughout history have persisted in levying “Jizya” on their conquered subjects, examples of such an action are abundant in human history including Christians and Jews.
In a study entitled “Did “Jizya” force people to join Islam?” Harbi explained that the “Old Testament” that Jews and Christians believe in, has legislated “Jizya”, and mentioned that prophets -peace be upon them- had taken “Jizya” from subjugated Nations when they conquered some kingdoms, as the Prophet “Joshua” did after his triumph over Canaanites.
Harbi added that the Roman Catholic have imposed “Jizyah” to Egyptian Orthodox, oppressed them and even threw some of them to hungry lions, but we never heard anyone say that the Orthodox left their community to Catholicism to avoid paying “Jizya”, but when some people are unable to justify how Jews and Christians joined Islam, fully convinced and satisfied, although there were no hungry lions or torturing fire, they attempted to justify this great conquest by claiming that “Jizya” was the reason, they forgot that “ Jizya” have never exceeded four dinars in the history of Islam, mostly one or two dinars, also it was paid by non-Muslims instead of and less than Zakat which Muslims pay.
[Quote_1]Harbi gave some examples and quotes by historians Westerners themselves; for example “Adam Metz”, the western orientalist, mentioned in his book “Islamic Civilization in the fourth Hijri century” that Jews in every Muslim country paid one dinar annually, it was only paid by the strong men who are able to fight neither by any person who had a disability, nor monks. Another example was Montesquieu, the famous french social commentator and political thinker who mentioned in his book ”the spirit of laws” that “Jizya” has accelerated the spread of Islam, as peoples preferred to pay ”Jizya” instead of endless series of costs which the emperors imposed.
The study also confirmed that ”Jizya” was not taken from all Christians and Jews, but only young people who were capable of fighting and earning money, that did not apply to women and children as they were exempted from the payment of it, Similarly, the “Jizya” was not collected from the indigent, the blind who had no source of income, the disabled, the very old, slaves and from monks. In some instances, the “Jizya” was waived in recognition of public service rendered by a non-Muslim, or as Al-Qurtubi said: “Our scholars said: The Qur’an proves that “Jizya” is taken from fighters… and levied only on adult, free men who are qualified to go to war not on women or children or slaves or mad people or defeated people or senile or the elderly.
Harbi also mentioned that “Will James Durant” the prolific American writer, historian, and philosopher quoted in his encyclopedia “The Story of Civilization” that monks, women, children, slaves, elderly, disabled, blind, poor were exempted from paying “Jizya”. Also Sir “Thomas Walker Arnold” who was an eminent British orientalist and historian of Islamic art, mentioned in his book ”The preaching of Islam: a history of the propagation of the Muslim faith” that “Jizya” was not imposed on the Christians, as some would have us think, as a penalty for their refusal to accept the Muslim faith, but was paid by them in common with the other non-Muslims subjects of the states whose religion precluded them from serving in the army, in return for the protection secured for them by the arms of the Muslims. When the people of Hirah (in Today’s Iraq) contributed the sum agreed upon, they expressly mentioned that they paid this “Jizyah “on condition that 'the Muslims and their leader protect us from those who would oppress us, whether they be Muslims or others.
[Quote_2]Besides, realizing the faithful loyalty of the Muslims, when the Syrian people of the covenant resisted Muslim enemies and aided the Muslims against them. The residents of each town would send some of their people to spy against the Byzantines, who conveyed the news of the gathering of Byzantine army to Abu Ubayda’s commanders. Finally, when the Muslims feared they would not be able to guarantee their protection, Abu Ubayda wrote to his commanders to return all the money they had collected as “Jizya” with the following message for the Syrians: ‘We are returning your money to you because news has reached us of the awaiting armies. The condition of our agreement is that we protect you, and we are unable to do so, therefore, we are returning what we have taken from you. If God grants us victory, we will stand by our agreement.
Furthermore, Muslim jurists have stated that protecting non-Muslims from external aggression is a duty just as their protection from internal harassment, Al-Mawardi stated: ‘The payment of “Jizya” entitles the people of the covenant to two rights; First, that they be left undisturbed. Second, that they be guarded and protected. In this way, they can be secure in society and protected from outside threats.
So, Islam considers abandoning the protection of its non-Muslim citizens a form of wrongdoing and oppression that is forbidden. God says: “And whoever commits injustice among you — We will make him taste a great punishment.” (Quran 25:19)
[Quote_3]Therefore, harming or oppressing people of the covenant is considered a serious sin. Upholding treaties with them is an obligation on the Muslim Caliph and his representatives. The Prophet promised to argue on the Day of Judgment on behalf of the non-Muslims against someone who harms him: “Beware! Whoever is cruel and hard on a non-Muslim minority, curtails their rights, burdens them with more than they can bear, or takes anything from them against their free will; I (Prophet Muhammad) will complain against that person on the Day of Judgment.” (by Abu Dawood).