This document discusses the Islamic concept of jizyah, a tax imposed on non-Muslims (dhimmis) living under Islamic rule. It was intended as an alternative to killing or enslaving non-Muslims who did not convert to Islam. The payment of jizyah was seen as a sign of subjugation and humiliation for non-Muslims. The document traces the origins of jizyah to interactions between Muhammad and Christian communities in Arabia, and it describes how jizyah was imposed on non-Muslim populations in conquered lands like India, where it remained in place for centuries. The payment of jizyah relegated dhimmis to second-class status under Islamic
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Harsh narain jizyah and the spread of islam
1. JIZYAH
AND
THE SPREAD OF ISLAM
Presentation based on a book by
Harsh Narain
2. Tariq, after landing on the shores of Spain.
HAR MULK MULK-I MAST KI MULK-I
KHUDA-I MAST
(ALL LAND BELONGS TO US, BECAUSE IT
BELONGS TO OUR ALLAH)
3. QURANIC COMMANDS TO THE
MUSLIMS AS PERCEIVED, PREACHED,
AND PRACTISED BY THE PROPHET, HIS
COMPANIONS AND FOLLOWERS
4. 1. Try to convert the Kafirs to Islam.
2. If any of them resist,
(i) try to consign them to the grave before God consigns
them to the hell-fire, plunder and loot their property
movable and immovable, enslave them, menfolk and
womenfolk and children alike.
5. (ii) or, where imposition of Jizyah is permissible, let the
Kafirs escape death and compound their offence of Kufr by
disgracefully paying Jizyah, abjectly surrendering to the
brute force of Islam, and suffering all sorts of indignities
and humiliations as Dhimmf-s;
(iii) or, again, if you find yourselves too weak to deal with
the Kafirs as above, take recourse to hejira (hijrah) and
bide your time.
6. Four arms of Jihad
Jihad by heart (Jihad bi 'I-qalb)
Jihad by tongue (Jihiid bi 'I-lisan)
Jihad by hand (Jihad bi 'I-yad)
Jihad by sword (Jihiid bi 's-sayf)
7. Prophet Mohammed 631 A.D.
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.'
9. IT IS MEANT TO BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO KILLING,
PLUNDER, ENSLAVEMENT, RANSOM, FORCIBLE
CONVERSION, AS WELL AS TO BE A PENALTY FOR
KUFR. IT IS FISCAL JIHD, SO TO SPEAK.
10. IT IS A BADGE OF HUMILIATION FOR BEING A NON-
MUSLIM, OF UTTER SERVILITY TO ISLAMDOM, OF ABJECT
SURRENDER TO THE BRUTE FORCE OF ISLAM. ISLAM IS
ABSOLUTE SURRENDER TO THE WILL OF GOD; LIABILITY TO
PAY JIZYAH, ABJECT SURRENDER TO THE WILL OF
ISLAMDOM. THE AMOUNT OF JIZYAH DOES NOT MATTER
11. THE LONG-TERM POLICY BEHIND IT APPEARS TO BE TO
COMPEL OR MOTIVATE THE DHIMM-S SLOWLY TO TURN TO
ISLAM AND EMBRACE IT. THEY WERE LET LIVE IN THE HOPE
OF THEIR CONVERSION IN COURSE OF TIME. IT IS THEREBY A
CAMOUFLAGED ENGINE OF REPRESSION.
12. IT OPENS THE DOOR TO LEVY OF OTHER HUMILIATING TAXES
ON THE DHIMM-S, SUCH FOR EXAMPLE AS PILGRIMAGE TAX,
FOR PETTY CONCESSION TO THEM IN THE OBSERVANCE OF
THEIR RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES ETC.
14. Najran, district of Yemen was the greatest
centre of civilization in the Arabian peninsula.
Najranites were esteemed as the wealthiest
and noblest of the Arabs.
15. Prophet began to send squads of missionaries
to spread Islam.
One squad reached Najran, in 629 A.D.
Najranite Christians began to question the
validity of Quran.
Which the Illiterate missionaries of Islam
failed to reply.
Mughirah bin Shubah reported the matter to
prophet.
16. Prophet Mohammed to the Najranite Christians.
WE ARE APPEARING BEFORE YOU IN
SUCH A WAY THAT EVEN THE EMBRYO IN
OUR CAMEL'S WOMB IS FEELING
RESTLESS. HIS RELIGION IS OPPOSED TO
17. Prophet invited them to embrace Islam.
Upon their refusal he asked them to accept his
suzerainty and pay Jizyah.
They have to pay annual jizyah of 2,000
garments 40 dirhams with each garment for
their protection.
These non-Muslims under the Muslim rule
were called dhimmis.
18. Umar, the second Caliph wanted to fulfill
prophets will that there should be no kafirs in
Arabia.
Umar banished all non-Muslims from Arabia.
They had to disperse and seek asylum in Syria
and Kufah.
19. This was how the finest civilization
of the Arabian peninsula was
uprooted by what is flaunted as
the religion of peace
20. Dhimmis were neither the first class citizens
nor the second class citizens.
They were miserable subjects of the Muslim
state, with no political and fundamental
rights.
Dhimmis were just a tolerated mass managing
their own affairs according to a schedule
imposed upon them against their will.
22. Muhammed bin Qasim conquered Sindh, the
north-western frontier of India in 712 A.D.
He imposed jizyah on the Hindus and
Buddhists unwilling to embrace Islam.
During the 12 centuries intervening between
the invasion of Mohammed bin Qasim and the
death of Aurangzeb jizyah remain a force in
India.
23. 'THOSE AMONG YOU WHO BECOME MUSSALMANS AND
COME WITHIN THE FOLD OF ISLAM SHALL HAVE THEIR
TRIBUTE REMITTED, BUT THOSE WHO ARE STILL
INCLINED TO BE OF THEIR OWN FAITH, MUST PUT UP
WITH INJURIES (GAZAND) AND TRIBUTE (JIZIA) TO
RETAIN THE RELIGION OF THEIR FATHERS AND
GRANDFATHERS.'
Mohammed Bin Qasim
24. Qadi Mughith ad-Din advised Sultan Alaud-Din Khalji
'IF THE JIZYAH-COLLECTOR ASK A HINDU FOR SILVER,
THE LATTER SHOULD OFFER GOLD IN ALL HUMILITY.
IF THE COLLECTOR WISHES TO SPIT INTO HIS
MOUTH, THE LATTER SHOULD OPEN HIS MOUTH
WITHOUT DEMUR, SO AS TO ENABLE THE FORMER
25. The so called majority community in
India is still paying something as good or
bad in effect as jizyah.
The part of the taxes paid by the
majority which is used exclusively in the
interests of the so-called minorities.