Capture 20151212 Quran 9:29 [ Jizya ]

Quran 9:29 [Jizya]

Comments: 3

Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection [Quran 9:29]

EXPLANATION

In the early days, Jizya was a tribute paid by nations which had fallen under Islamic rule, which was common practice in the old days. And it is to this that Quran is referring to. Later on, Jizya became an individual tax paid by non-Muslim citizens: males who could afford it, who did not pay the Zakah tax which was required of Muslims and who chose not to serve in the army.

There is no separation between religion and state in Islam. The US government, on the other hand, is a secular government. We can argue till the cows come home which system of governance is better, but that would get us no where. An Islamic state does acknowledge that its non-Muslim minority is not bound by divine laws as the Muslims are. Therefore, it would be unethical for a Muslim government to ask for charity dues from non-Muslims in whose religion it is not compulsory to give charity.