Friday Nasiha 31 August 2007

Friday Nasiha - Issue # 441

Shaban 18, 1428, A.H. - August 31, 2007, C.E.

Living the Quran

Surah al-Tawbah (The Repentance) Chapter 9: Verse 29 (Partial) Tax on Non-Muslims "Until they pay the jizyah by hand in a condition of submission." This is the verse that establishes the jizyah – a tax that is paid by non-Muslims who live as citizens in the Muslim state. Non-Muslim citizens of the Islamic state are subordinate to the state and not in an act of opposition or rebellion against it.This means that these non-Muslims are paying the tax that is due upon them in a framework of obedience to, and recognition of, the state wherein they are full citizens. The Nature of Jizyah Non-Muslims live in the Muslim state as citizens under a contractual agreement (dhimmah) whereby they pay the jizyah, a fixed annual levy, in lieu of two things: 1. Jizyah is paid in lieu of exemption from military service. Non-Muslim citizens receive the protection of the state, whereby they are allowed to live in peace and security, without being obliged to engage in any military service. The Muslims, by contrast, are required to engage in military service when they are called upon to do so. Historically, at times when the Muslim government could not afford protection from enemies to the non-Muslims living in the outlying regions of the Muslim state, this levy was returned to them. 2. Jizyah is paid in lieu of exmption from paying zakâh. In spite of the fact that, as citizens, they have full rights to receive assistance from the public treasury and to benefit from public services and public works, non-Muslims are exempt from paying zakâh. By contrast, Muslims in the Muslim state must pay zakâh to the public treasury. [read more here]