User:JalalTagreeb/Sandbox 1

Jizyah: The Tax of being Non-Muslim

Islam nowhere encourages, prescribes, or envisages friendly coexistence with the Kafirs, who, according to it, are not to be tolerated, much less respected. One verse from the Quran: "To you your religion and to me my religion" (La Kum dinu-kum wa liya din). Another is: "There is no force in religion" (La ikraha fi ‘d-din), these were abrogated by another verse: “Fight the disbelievers ... and those of the People of the Book ... until they pay the Jizyah with a willing hand in a state of humiliation”. First, this shows how verses change depending on the political situation. Second, the word "Fight" in the verse implies different meanings and types, just like the word "Jihad" does in other verses. For example, we have the following types of Jihad:

• Jihad by heart (Jihad bi I-qalb)
• Jihad by tongue (Jihad bi’I-lisan)
• Jihad by hand (Jihad bi ‘I-yad)
• Jihad by sword (Jihad bi ‘s-sayf) Which form of Jihad to adopt depends upon the particular situation which the Muslim finds himself in.

But also, it can be considered as a generic word, that is, "Fight" them in every possible way.

Questions:

1. Why are the concepts of "Fighting" and "Jihad" floating in the verses?

2. Why should non-Muslims be charged for their faith?

References:

1. "Jizyah and the Spread of Islam", Shri Harsh Narain.

2. Verse 29 of chapter 9 of the Qur'an.