The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 566
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 566 was it deducted from a person’s inheritance. 1 Does any nation give such privileges to another in this day and age? Not only has a course of leniency been employed in the specification of Jizyah ; rather, even after its obligation, if the financial state of a person made it impossible to pay Jizyah , the amount owed by him would be waived. Therefore, the following incident is an interesting example of this very fact. It is narrated that on one occasion Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra happened to pass by a place where various non-Muslims were being treated harshly to some extent in the collection of Jizyah. When Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra caught sight of this, he stopped immediately and angrily inquired, “What is the matter here?” It was submitted, “These people do not pay Jizyah and claim that it is beyond their means. ” Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra responded: “Then there is no reason for such a burden to be placed upon them which is beyond their capacity to bear. Leave them. I have heard the Holy Prophet sa say, ‘He who causes grief to people in this world, shall be punished by God on the day of resurrection. ’” Thus, there Jizyah was waived. 2 Due to the emphatic instructions of the Holy Prophet sa , Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra was so concerned for the non-Muslim population under his rule that upon his deathbed, he especially left a will which read as follows: “I advise the Khalīfah who succeeds me to treat the non-Muslim citizens of the Islāmic State with extreme compassion and kindness. Fulfill treaties settled with them and protect them. Fight their enemies on their behalf, and do not in any case, place a burden or responsibility upon them which is beyond their capacity. ” 3 General Treatment and Political Relations Even in the matter of general treatment and political relations, Islām has established an example, which cannot be found in any other nation. The treaty of the Holy Prophet sa with the Jews of Khaibar has already 1 Kitābul-Kharāj, By Qāḍī Abū Yūsuf Ya‘qūb bin Ibrāhīm, pp. 131-132, Faṣlun: Fī Man Tajibu ‘Alaihil- Jizyah, Printed by Baulāq (1302 A. H. ) 2 Kitābul-Kharāj, By Qāḍī Abū Yūsuf Ya‘qūb bin Ibrāhīm, p. 135, Faṣlun: Fī Man Tajibu ‘Alaihil-Jizyah, Printed by Baulāq (1302 A. H. ) 3 Kitābul-Kharāj, By Qāḍī Abū Yūsuf Ya‘qūb bin Ibrāhīm, p. 135, Faṣlun: Fī Man Tajibu ‘Alaihil-Jizyah, Printed by Baulāq (1302 A. H. )