Jizya (tax) for non muslims
Mu' meneen
Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa
Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be
upon all of you)
One of our
brothers/sisters has asked this question:
Dear Brother Burhan,
Assalaamo
alaikum. Thank you for your service to the
Islamic community. I am writing an essay on Islamic political system. I
would like you to help me in explaining the guidelines regarding
calculation of jizya that the non-Muslim subjects of
an Islamic state are supposed to pay to the Islamic state instead of Zakat. Also, what rights a non-Muslim resident does not
have as compared to a Muslim resident of a Islamic
state, especially when it comes to holding a leadership position, like a
high government office or judiciary. Please reply to this email as soon as
you can. Thank you.
Wassalaam,
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
Answer:
Jizya for
Non-Muslims
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and
ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He
allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there
is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam,
no dai,
nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
The non-muslim
subjects in an Islamic States are levied a tax which is termed Jizya in Shariah in leiu of the tax levied on the muslim
subjects in the same State which is termed Zakaah
in Shariah.
The calculation of the Zakaah tax varies from product to product (agriculture
5%-10%, rental
10%, etc.), but the general tax on
wealth is calculated at 2.5% per annum on the net worth of the person. There is no fixed calculation of the Jizya tax, as the calculation is determined by the State
depending on the situation and period.
The Jizya
tax is levied on the non-muslim subjects in an
Islamic State in order to enable the State to protect their lives and property
from external enemies. It is the duty
of the State to protect their citizens at times of war, where the non-muslim subjects will not be required to join the army; whereas it is a
duty of the muslims in the State to join the army and
fight the enemies. When a jizya paying non-muslim citizen
becomes old and/or jobless, it was the duty of the State to provide him a
monthly stipend from the National Treasury.
After the death of the Prophet
(saws), one of his noble companions, Abu Ubaydah ibn Jarrah (r.a.)
was appointed the commander of the muslim army and
for some time he ruled over the non-muslims in an
area of
Your Question: Also, what rights a non-Muslim resident
does not have as compared to a Muslim resident of a
Islamic state, especially when it comes to holding a leadership position, like
a high government office or judiciary.
The rights of the non-muslim
citizen paying Jizya, will be the same as the muslims
in an Islamic State. He will be dealt
in all cases, exactly
as the muslim
citizens.
The non-muslim
citizen can hold any leadership position in the Islamic State according to
their merit and capabilities. The only
positions which cannot be allotted to him are the position of the Ameer or leader, and a judiciary position, simply because the
Islamic State will obviously be ruled according to the Laws of Islam and Shariah. But other
than that, there is no harm if a non-muslim citizen
is given a high ranking position in the Islamic government according to his
capabilities. History is indeed proof
that many non-muslims held ministerial positions in
the Islamic governments in Egypt, Spain, etc.
at the height of the Muslim rule.
Whatever written of Truth and
benefit is only due to Allahs Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error
is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He
is the Only Source of Strength.
Your Brother in Islam,
Burhan
Wister