Discover the meaning of the term Al-jzya (جزية) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 1 min readWhat is taken from the protected people (dhimmis); its plural is jaza, like lihya and liha.
With kasra: the name of what is taken from the protected people; its plural is jaza, like lihya and liha. It is so named because it compensates (tujzi) on behalf of the dhimmi, that is, satisfies for the slaying: when he accepts it, the killing falls away.
What is exacted, in wealth, from the People of the Book.
In language: from mutual requital (mujazat); in religious law: a contract of security, exchange and perpetual engagement by the Imam or his deputy, upon a fixed sum taken each year from the unbelievers with their consent, in return for dwelling in the land of Islam. [Fasl al-Sin].
The wealth imposed upon the dhimmi, called kharaj and the head-tax (kharaj al-ra's).
﴿قَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَلَا بِٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَلَا يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَلَا يَدِينُونَ دِينَ ٱلْحَقِّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ حَتَّىٰ يُعْطُوا۟ ٱلْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍۢ وَهُمْ صَـٰغِرُونَ﴾
« Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled. »
Surah التوبة : 29