Think about these things without taking the perspective of the media

Submitted by Ali (Canada), Dec 30, 2008 at 18:01

I will start off with the taxes. The taxes to be payed by Muslims are Zakat and Ushr while non-Muslims are to pay Jizyah. The percentage of only Zakat is calculated to be 2.5 percent(The Quran states what is to be done while further explanations to those verses are explained in the Hadith. Therefore, the Hadith tells you the exact amount of all taxes to be paid. ).

Although I do not know the exact amount of Jizyah, I am 100 percent sure that it is less than 2.5 percent as I have read that throughout history non-Muslims paid less than Zakat. When Zakat and Ushr are combined, it is certain that Jizyah is less than both combined. Females, children, the poor, and hermits were exempt from it. The disabled and elderly were exempt unless they were independently wealthy, as were mendicantmonks—those living in productive monasteries had to pay. Historically Muslim rulers also attempted to collect jizyah from Hindus, Sikhs and Zoroastrians under their rule. The collection of the tax was often the duty of the elders of those communities. In Islam, People of the Book or ahl al Kitâb are peoples who have received and possess the divine scriptures.

In return, those who paid the jizyah were not required to serve in the military and were considered under the protection of the Muslim state, with certain rights and responsibilities. Non-Muslims were also exempt from Zakat, or mandatory charity imposed on Muslims. In addition, if a non-Muslim chose to serve in the army, he would be exempt from the jizyah. As for the fact that you it is to be paid in subjection and humiliation you can visit this link: http://www.islamtoday.com/showme2.cfm?cat_id=2&sub_cat_id=1440

I hope that will clear your confusions about Jizyah. Moving on, you ask me to tell you about Jihad.

From the Quran:

"Permission to fight is given to those upon whom war is made, because they have been wronged — and God is well able to help them. Those who have been expelled from their homes unjustly, only for saying, ‘Allah is our Lord'. And if God had not allowed one group of people to repel another, then there would have been pulled down cloisters and synagogues and churches and mosques, in which God's name is remembered." (22:39,40) Four conditions are given here for allowing jihad by the sword:

1. Fighting has to be initiated by the unbelievers, as is clear from the words "those upon whom war is made".
2. There has to be extreme persecution of the Muslims — "because they have been wronged".
3. The aim of the unbelievers has to be the destruction of Islam and the Muslims, as is clear from the words "there would have been pulled down ...".
4. The object of the Muslims must only be self-defence and protection, as shown by the words "if God had not allowed one people to repel another".

The other verse allowing fighting says: "Fight in the way of God those who fight you, but do not go over the limit" (2:190). Hence the command in the Holy Quran to fight, or conduct jihad with the sword, is subject to the above conditions.

From Hadith:

1. "A group of Muslim soldiers came to the Holy Prophet [from a battle]. He said: Welcome, you have come from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad. It was said: What is the greater jihad? He said: The striving of a servant against his low desires."

   (Al-Tasharraf, Part I, p. 70)

2. "The Holy Prophet said: The greatest jihad is to speak the word of truth to a tyrant."
3. "The mujahid [one engaged in jihad] is he who strives against his own self to obey God."
4. "The most excellent jihad is the Hajj."

The above is how the Prophet(PBUH) described Jihad.To learn more about Islam, you can visit: http://shareislam.com/#

Let me know if you have any concerns or questions as I will be happy to help you

Ali

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