Many of ‘YouTube’ so called lectures which are directed against our religion use Al Jeziah levied on non Muslims living in Muslim countries and they also refer to the Holy Quran verse 9/29 as indication of tyranny and oppression allegedly used by the early Muslim authorities towards non Muslims living under their rule in order to force them to convert to Islam, the time as we will show such practice actually led to the opposite to what they are trying to imply.
Al Jeziah Or ‘Al Jyzia’
The Quran Verse: 9/ (29) “Fight those who do not believe in Allah or believe in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the true religion from those who were given the Scripture until they give the jeziah willingly while they are humbled.”
Under Islamic administration, Muslims pay Zakat (which is kind of religious charity tax) and their men have to join the army to defend its borders. Others (none Muslims) do not pay Zakat (which is levied only on Muslims) and are not required to join the army. As they enjoy the same citizenship rights and services, so they pay annual Jeziah (kind of government tax).
The verses allows the governing body to fight the None Muslims who refuse to pay the Jeziah till they pay it. Same what will happen to you if you refuse to pay the Inland Revenue or the Tax Office the tax you owe them.
Zakat and Jeziah are kind of a charity tax taken from the rich to support the poor. Muslims support their poor and Jews & Christians support their poor.
Now, the Jaziah was very small annual amount, much lesser that what the Romans used to levy as taxes on people living under their government, including Christians and Jews.
Jeziah was levied on only he strong and the rich at 1 dinar (4.25 grams of gold)/ per annum (equal today at gold price US$1150/Ounce to around US $172/year ($14.30/month) and it could go up to around 4 Dinars (US $ 688)/year for the rich. But the poor, the disabled, the old, the sick, the Monks, the women and whoever not able to pay were all exempt of paying any, on the contrary they received benefits from the governing administration.
While the Zakat levied on all able Muslims is equal to 2.5% of all their wealth taken every year and 10% of their agricultural products and crops when harvested.
Immediately after the death of the Prophet (sas), several Muslim tribes around Madinah and Mecca refused to pay zakat, and Abu Baker the first Caliph send armies to fight them till they surrender and gave Zakat . So fighting was not specifically declared against Jews or Christian who refused to pay Jeziah. War was also declared against Muslims who refused to pay Zakat.
As the above mentioned facts shows, it is clear that it was really cheaper for non-Muslims to pay Jeziah and stay on their own religion rather than convert to Islam and become obliged to pay the heavier Zakat.
Please if you see any of such You Tube, reply or copy and paste the above as your ‘Comment’ to explain the truth and answer such ill-informed lecturer.
Note: Please ignore any insulting comments addressed back to you by others after you comment on any subject in the digital social media, just leave your comment and ignore the uneducated responses, our duty ends with stating the facts.
{ And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do} 6/(108)
رجاء التحلي بالصبر وعدم الرد عند التواصل من خلال أدوات التواصل الإجتماعية، فالهدف بيان الحقيقة وليس الدخول في مهاترات، بعد أن بينت وجهة نظرك أعرض عنهم
(وَلَا تَسُبُّوا الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَيَسُبُّوا اللَّهَ عَدْوًا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ زَيَّنَّا لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ عَمَلَهُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِم مَّرْجِعُهُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ) 108(6)