After the Taliban militants recently ordered Sikhs in Pakistan's tribal region to pay Jizia (Islamic poll tax on non-Muslims), a number of Muslim leaders in India issued a declaration criticizing the militants for not following the true spirit of Islam.
Following is the text of the declaration: [1]
"Imposition of … Jizia is Nothing More Than Extortion By an Armed and Lawless Gang Which Does Not Constitute a Sovereign Government or State"
"We, religious, political and community leaders of the Indian Muslims, are alarmed at the reports coming out of Pakistan's tribal areas about the Pakistani Taliban's kidnapping, extortion of huge amounts of money from their Sikh compatriots as Jizia, and demolition of the houses and shops of those who fail to pay the demanded sums.
"We would like to say that Jizia is a tax paid in an Islamic state for exemption from military service by healthy non-Muslim adults who are free to follow their vocations without restriction or fear, and that there is no other tax payable by them after paying this tax - unlike Muslims who have to pay various taxes including Zakat and who have to perform military service as well.
"Jizia was payable by non-Muslims only in lands conquered by Muslims, like Egypt, Syria and Iraq, but not in unconquered areas like Madina, where, during the time of the Holy Prophet, no Jizia was ever imposed on non-Muslim citizens, who enjoyed equal rights and duties under the Constitution of Madina.
"For many centuries, Jizia has not been levied by Muslim states, and today, even the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran do not levy Jizia on non-Muslims - for the simple reason that non-Muslims in these states pay all taxes payable by others.
"Prominent Islamic scholars of the modern times like Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi are of the view that Jizia should not be imposed now, as non-Muslims are equal citizens of Muslim states and pay all taxes paid by other citizens, and shoulder all the duties."
"We wish to make it clear that the imposition of the so-called Jizia is nothing more than extortion by an armed and lawless gang which does not constitute a sovereign government or state, or even an organ thereof. Moreover, Pakistan's tribal areas are not 'conquered lands,' as their non-Muslim population has been living there for centuries. These areas were part of the British India and became part of the new State of Pakistan as a result of peaceful transfer of power on Partition [in 1947]."
"We Regard This as an Act of Injustice Incompatible With the Letter and Spirit of Islam and the International Covenants Accepted by All Muslim States"
"As regards the huge amounts in millions reported to be demanded, these are arbitrary and exorbitant, as the amount of annual Jizia paid by non-Muslims in early Islam was merely one to one and a half dinar, which is 4.24 gram to 6.36 grams of gold. Moreover, this tax was payable only at the end of the year, and not in advance.
"We regard this as an act of injustice incompatible with the letter and spirit of Islam and the international covenants accepted by all Muslim states.
"We demand that the Pakistani authorities take earliest steps to retrieve the extorted sums and to repay them to their affected non-Muslim citizens, to facilitate their peaceful return to their homes and properties in their traditional homelands, and to give them all due protection."
Signatories of the declaration:
Maulana Mufti Mukarram Ahmad
Shahi Imam, Jama Masjid Fatehpuri, Delhi
Hafiz Muhammad Yahya
President, All India Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadees
Maulana Abdul Hameed Nomani
Secretary, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind
Syed Shahabuddin
Ex-President, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat
Prof Tahir Mahmood
Member, Law Commission of India
Mujtaba Farooq
Secretary, Jamaat-e Islami Hind
Maulana Ataur Rahman Qasmi
President, Shah Waliullah Institute, Delhi
Maulana Waris Mazhari
Editor, Monthly Tarjuman, Delhi
Dr Zafar Mahmood
President, Zakat Foundation of India
Dr SQR Ilyas
Member, Muslim Personal Law Board
Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan
President, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat
Mirza Yawar Baig
President of Yawar Baig & Associates
Shahnawaz Ali Raihan
Secretary, Students Islamic Organisation
Endnote:
[1] www.indianmuslims.in, India, May 2, 2009. The text has been lightly edited for clarity.
