Dhimmi & Jizyah

“Dhimmi” (Arabic: ذمي, meaning "protected person")

We have one verse in Quran talking about Jizyah or Jizya (Arabic: جزية‎) is the extra tax imposed on non-Muslims (Dhimmi) who live under Muslim rule; Quran Chapter 9 verse 29 says:

“Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden 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 Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” (Quran 9:29)

Who are the “Dhimmis” that must pay Jizya? The verse above so clear, even if they are of the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) if they “… believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth… ” they are unbelievers and if they are living in Islamic countries they are “dhimmis” and then they have to “… pay the Jizya with willing submission …”

Think about a person called him self “a Christian” but do not believe in God or the Last Day, he does not hold on what forbidden by God and have no idea about the religion of Truth. Can we call this kind of man a Christian? Sure not.

Most of those people who call themselves Christians do not believe in God but believe in gods (so-called trinity). They do not hold on what forbidden by God and drink alcohol, eat pork, break the Sabbath, bow to image and idols, etc. Most of the Christians “have no idea about the religion of Truth”. They ignore One True God and believe in gods. They ignore Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and men (1Ti 2:5) and took Mary and the saints as mediators. So, even if they are of the People of the Book if they do not acknowledge the religion of Truth they are not Believers.

And we read in the Quran:

“Not all of them are alike: Of the People of the Book are a portion that stand (For the right): They rehearse the Signs of Allah all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration. They believe in Allah and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous.” Qur’an 3:113,114

And now let us read an article written by Muqtedar Khan …

- In 628 AD, a delegation from St. Catherine’s Monastery came to Prophet Muhammed, requesting his protection. He responded by granting them a charter of rights, which is reproduced below in its entirety.

The Promise to St. Catherine:

“This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.

Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.

No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses.

Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.

No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.

No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).”

The first and final sentences of this charter are critical, as they make the promise eternal and universal. Prophet Muhammed asserts that Muslims are with Christians near and far. Thus, totally rejecting any future attempts to limit the promise to St. Catherine alone. By commanding Muslims to obey it until the Day of Judgment, the charter again undermines any future attempts to revoke the privileges. These rights are inalienable. Prophet Muhammed declared Christians as his allies and equated ill treatment of Christians with violating God’s covenant.

A remarkable aspect of the charter is that it imposes no conditions on Christians for enjoying its privileges. It is enough that they are Christians. They are not required to alter their beliefs, they do not have to make any payments and they do not have any obligations. This is a charter of rights without any duties!

…”