The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 569
XII - First Era of Life in Madīnah Comes to an End and the Islāmic System of Government 569 are able to absolve yourself. ” 1 Aid for Destitute Dhimmīs In the Islāmic State, poor and helpless non-Muslim citizens were also provided financial support. On one occassion, when Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra noticed an old Jewish man begging, he asked him, “What is the matter?” He responded, “I have become old and since my eyesight has fallen weak I cannot work; I also owe Jizyah. ” Upon hearing this, Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra became restless and immediately took the man to his home and gave him an appropriate amount of aid. Then, he summoned the Officer of Baitul-Māl and said, “What a grave injustice is it that Jizyah is being levied upon such people! We have been ordered to help the poor, not burden them with tax. ” After this, a general order was instituted that such people would be exempt from Jizyah , and, deserving people of this nature would receive a regular stipend from Baitul-Māl. 2 What to talk of Dhimmīs , there is even examples in Islām of aid being given to combatant enemies. As such, we have seen in the accounts of 5 A. H. , that when a famine struck Makkah, the Holy Prophet sa sent some silver to the people of Makkah of his own accord in order to assist them, 3 although the Quraish of Makkah were still at war with Islām at the time. Regard for Sentiments The relationship between emotions and sentiments is a very delicate one, and victorious and triumphant nations generally exhibit extreme disregard in this matter, because this has nothing to do with a specific law. Rather, this issue relates to the spirit, which is hidden in the hearts of people and which no worldly law can govern. However, even in their era of dominance and rule the Holy Prophet sa and his Companions would take great care of the 1 * Usdul-Ghābah Fī Ma‘rifatiṣ-Ṣaḥābah, By ‘Izzuddīn Ibnul-Athīr Abul-Ḥasan ‘Alī bin Muḥammad, Volume 1, p. 280, Bakrubnu Shaddākhin , Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon (2003) * Additionally, in order to find proof which refutes the false notion that a Muslim cannot be put to death in retribution for a disbeliever refer to Sharḥu Ma‘ānil-Āthār, By Abū Ja‘far Aḥmad bin Muḥammad (Aṭ-Ṭaḥāwī), Part 2, pp. 108-110, Bābul-Mu’minu Yaqtulul-Kāfira Muta‘ammidan, Maktaba-e-Raḥmāniyyah, Urdu Bazaar, Lahore 2 Kitābul-Kharāj, By Qāḍī Abū Yūsuf Ya‘qūb bin Ibrāhīm, Faṣlun: Fī Man Tajibu ‘Alaihil-Jizyah, p. 136, Printed by Baulāq (1302 A. H. ) 3 Tārīkhul-Khamīs Fī Aḥwāli Anfasi Nafīs, By Ḥusain bin Muḥammad bin Ḥasan, Volume 1, p. 470, Al- Mauṭanul-Khāmisu Fī Waqā’i‘is-Sanatil-Khāmisati Minal-Hijrah / Shiddatu Quraishin , Mu’assisatu Sha‘bān, Beirut