Surah 9:29 states that the people of the book are to pay the Jizyah in a state where they are saaghiruun. This word according to the Arabic experts means humiliation or disgrace. (See Tafsir Al-Tabari, Volume 12, page 96; Al-Qaradihi, Kitab Al-'Ayn Lil-Khaleel, Volume 4, page 372; Al-Jawhari, Al-Sihaah Taaj Al-Lugha wa Sihaah Al-'Arabiyah, Volume 2, page 713; Ibn Faaris, Mu'jam Maqayees Al-Lugha, Volume 3, page 290; Abi Mansur Al-Azhari, Tahdheeb Al-Lugha, Volume 3, page 50; Ibn Sayda, Al-Muhkam wal Muheet Al-'Adham, Volume 5, page 422; Al-Matrazi, Al-Mugharab fi Tarteeb Al-Mu'arab, Volume 3, page 260; Ibn Manzur, Lisaan Al-'Arab, Volume 4, page 458; Al-Qayyumi, Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer fi Ghareeb Al-Sharh Al-Kabeer, Volume 5, page 221)
First let us understand what Jizyah is. Jizyah is the duty that a non-Muslim has to pay in order to live in the Muslim land. (Ibn Qudamah, Al Mughni, Volume 12, p. 756). Not all non-Muslims are required to pay the Jizyah tax. There are conditions which may exempt non-Muslims from paying the Jizyah tax, which could be summarized as follows:
- Women and children are excused absolutely
- Handicapped, blind and old men, even if they are rich
- Needy and mad-men
- Day laborers, servants or wageworkers
- A chronically ill-man even if he is rich
- Religious people who keep themselves free for praying and worshipping, i.e. men of churches, cloisters and oratories
- If a non-Muslim voluntarily participates in military service for protecting the country.
- If the Islamic state becomes unable to protect non-Muslims, then they are legally exonerated from paying the tax. (See Ibnul Qayyim, Ahkam Ahlul Dhimma, Volume1, pp.8, 15 and al-Shafi', al-Umm¸ pp. 172-1)
Hence, we see that only those able bodied, financially able male adult non-Muslims who don't volunteer to fight for the country are made to pay Jizyah tax if they live in the Muslim land.
Now the specific verse in question (i.e. 9:29) states that whomever is paying the Jizyah is doing it in a state of humiliation. But is this verse talking about a particular group of non-Muslims or all non-Muslims eligible for paying Jizyah in general?
First let us understand what Jizyah is. Jizyah is the duty that a non-Muslim has to pay in order to live in the Muslim land. (Ibn Qudamah, Al Mughni, Volume 12, p. 756). Not all non-Muslims are required to pay the Jizyah tax. There are conditions which may exempt non-Muslims from paying the Jizyah tax, which could be summarized as follows:
- Women and children are excused absolutely
- Handicapped, blind and old men, even if they are rich
- Needy and mad-men
- Day laborers, servants or wageworkers
- A chronically ill-man even if he is rich
- Religious people who keep themselves free for praying and worshipping, i.e. men of churches, cloisters and oratories
- If a non-Muslim voluntarily participates in military service for protecting the country.
- If the Islamic state becomes unable to protect non-Muslims, then they are legally exonerated from paying the tax. (See Ibnul Qayyim, Ahkam Ahlul Dhimma, Volume1, pp.8, 15 and al-Shafi', al-Umm¸ pp. 172-1)
Hence, we see that only those able bodied, financially able male adult non-Muslims who don't volunteer to fight for the country are made to pay Jizyah tax if they live in the Muslim land.
Now the specific verse in question (i.e. 9:29) states that whomever is paying the Jizyah is doing it in a state of humiliation. But is this verse talking about a particular group of non-Muslims or all non-Muslims eligible for paying Jizyah in general?