What is jizya and are non-Muslims second-class citizens?

Peace, war, jihad and violence Quran · 2 Sources · 1

Short answer

Jizya was a tax paid by non-Muslim adult men under Muslim rule instead of military service and zakat, in exchange for protection and religious freedom. It was not a punishment for belief, and it was waived for the poor, women, children and clergy.

The fuller answer

Muslim citizens paid zakat and also served in the army. Non-Muslims were exempted from both and paid a modest tax instead, and in many periods it was less than what Muslims paid. When a state could not protect them, as when the Muslim army withdrew from Homs before the Byzantines, the jizya was returned.

The system has not been used in most places for centuries. Today, Muslim scholars generally hold that all citizens of a modern state are equal citizens with the same duties, and that jizya has no place when everyone is taxed alike and serves in the army. History does record cases of discrimination, and the rule of the Quran is to deal with people justly.

From the Quran

1At-Tawbah 9:29

قَٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَلَا بِٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ وَلَا يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَلَا يَدِينُونَ دِينَ ٱلْحَقِّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ حَتَّىٰ يُعْطُوا۟ ٱلْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍۢ وَهُمْ صَٰغِرُونَ ﴿٢٩﴾

Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.

2Al-Mumtahanah 60:8

لَّا يَنْهَىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَٰتِلُوكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَٰرِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ ﴿٨﴾

Allah forbiddeth you not those who warred not against you on account of religion and drove you not out from your homes, that ye should show them kindness and deal justly with them. Lo! Allah loveth the just dealers.

Sources

The hadith and reports behind this answer. Open a number to read it in the hadith library of this site.

The return of the jizya at Homs: Abu Yusuf, Kitab al-Kharaj.

This answer follows the mainstream Sunni understanding and is general learning, not a fatwa. Where Muslims differ, the answer says so. Have a question of your own? Write to us.

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