Why did Muslims set out to conquer the world?
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Peace G.Omar,
I have no wish to quibble with you as I respect your learning too much. I base my interpretation of Jiziya not on a translation of the Quran but on texts by people of the book in Spain during the muslim era where those who served in the army were clearly exempt from paying this tax.
The meaning in the great reading itself is what matters. There is nothing inherent in the term "jizya" either in the quranic context or in Arabic dictionaries to indicate that it specifically has to do with military service. This is clearly a meaning dictated by the circumstances of the Moore rulers in Spain at the time (hundreds of years after the great reading was descended). Also, how about Muslims who don't serve in the army. Do they pay the tax?
Peace,
Ayman
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Peace Farida,
Regarding Jizya I tried to understand your explanation Ayman but it does not seem to make much sense to me. I have in front of me excellent Yaqb.org and different interpretation and with my limited knowledge of Arabic I believe that Jizya was introduced soon after Muslims were asked to bar idol worshpper from the Sacred Mosque 0928
In verse 0929 the people concerned were people of the book who were given commandment in their books to contribute Zakah in the community and if the people of the book failed to follow their Deen which they were suppose to establish then, in compensation they should pay Jizya ?yes it was not something in return for military service but the fact remains that whether we like it or not Jezya was to be paid if people of the books ignored their own just law and that is why many became Muslims and many who paid Jizya reached prominent position and enjoyed full protection from the state.
Today?s minorities appear to have equal human rights but this so called Civilised Era is the one where, although there are no apparent slaves, nations are enslaved and the poor work like slaves to provide luxuries from coca to designer clothes.The word "jizya" has to do with compensation or retaliation (when negative). There is nothing inherent in the word by itself to specifically imply a religious tax or a religious-military service tax. In fact, the word "yu3tu" can mean "they are given". So the direction of the "jizya" would be from the believers to the people of the book. Clearly the believers wouldn't be paying them money. So it is retaliation for an injustice that those specific people of the book in Chapter 9 have done.
Peace,
Ayman
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Peace OPF,
Only issue with that is that "ihram" is next to full cover.
I don't know about that. I pesonally would feel uncomfortable walking down the street wearing nothing but a towel around my waist and a towel over my shoulder. This could just be me. D
As for these "Muslim" empires, the later ones were corrupt to the core. What's with the sultans having harems anyway?
Are you implying that they were lucky? ;D The god gave them an empire and power and they wasted it and all they are remembered for is the "harems". The Sultans are a most unlucky bunch.
Peace,
Ayman
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Peace OPF,
I don't know about that. I pesonally would feel uncomfortable walking down the street wearing nothing but a towel around my waist and a towel over my shoulder. This could just be me. D
Are you implying that they were lucky? ;D The god gave them an empire and power and they wasted it and all they are remembered for is the "harems". The Sultans are a most unlucky bunch.
Peace,
Ayman
Salaam Ayman
Thank you for elaborating on the meaning of Jizya and I see that we are in agreement on this subject.
I agree with you that the Sultans + others were the unlucky ignorant ones, who were put to the test by the Almighty, but what ever they did were their deeds. Today many, like those Sultans waste their valuable time critising other. The Qur'an asks us to check ourselves how we are going through our tests and reflect.
On the last note thank GOd that I am a women I never had to imagine going around in two lose towels in a crowd though many do go around that way on the beech.
Best regards
Farida -
Peace G.Omar,
The meaning in the great reading itself is what matters. There is nothing inherent in the term "jizya" either in the quranic context or in Arabic dictionaries to indicate that it specifically has to do with military service. This is clearly a meaning dictated by the circumstances of the Moore rulers in Spain at the time (hundreds of years after the great reading was descended). Also, how about Muslims who don't serve in the army. Do they pay the tax?
Peace,
Ayman
I agree. if you want to understand the meaning of a Quranic term you need to find out what was intended. I have no information as to whether those Muslims who did not perform military service had to pay the Jizya. Given the very high level of equality btw. the religions I would expect a similar tax, not necessarily named Jizya though, was indeed levied on them. I will try to find out GW. !
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Peace Farida,
The word "jizya" has to do with compensation or retaliation (when negative). There is nothing inherent in the word by itself to specifically imply a religious tax or a religious-military service tax. In fact, the word "yu3tu" can mean "they are given". So the direction of the "jizya" would be from the believers to the people of the book. Clearly the believers wouldn't be paying them money. So it is retaliation for an injustice that those specific people of the book in Chapter 9 have done.
Peace,
Ayman
Having done further research into the matter of Jizya it appears it was indeed connected to military service or the exemption from such service. The evidence suggesting this is a)The tax was only imposed on able bodied non-Muslim men of military age. b) Dhimmis recruited for military operations were exempted from jizya for the year of service. Please read below
"In states ruled by Islamic law, jizya is a per capita tax imposed on able bodied non-Muslim men of military age. The tax was not levied on slaves, women, children, monks, the old, the sick, hermits and the poor. Non-Muslim citizens who pay the tax are permitted to practice their faith and to enjoy a measure of communal autonomy as well as being entitled to Muslim protection from outside aggression and being exempted from military service and numerous other exemptions to levies upon Muslim citizens.
Taxation from the perspective of people who came under the Muslim rule, was a concrete continuation of the taxes paid to earlier regimes but now lower under the Muslim rule and from the point of view of the Muslim conqueror was a material proof of the payer's subjection. In the border provinces, dhimmis were sometimes recruited for military operations. In such cases, they were exempted from jizya for the year of service." -
Where are the sources for that statement? Textual or factual?
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Various sources, I made a search on "Jizya". Mainly Wikipedia.
Oh horror.