What is the term 'Jizya' referred to in Islamic taxation?

Explanation

Jizya is a per capita tax historically levied on non-Muslim (dhimmī) citizens in an Islamic state. It served as a counterpart to Zakat, which was obligatory on Muslims, and in exchange, non-Muslims were exempted from military conscription and guaranteed protection of life, property, and religious freedom by the state. The tax was based on the Quranic verse (9:29) and was collected only from able-bodied adult males who could afford it, exempting the poor, women, children, the elderly, and clergy.

Good to know

The jizya system was formalized during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (R.A.) and was applied with graded rates based on economic status. Unlike Kharaj (land tax) and Ushr (agricultural tithe), jizya was specifically a head tax. The abolition of jizya in the Ottoman Empire came through the Tanzimat reforms in the 19th century, marking a shift toward equal citizenship for all subjects regardless of religion.

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