9. [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, 9H after Tabuk]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قَاتِلُواْ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَلاَ بِالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ...   

9: 29.  Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day,

...وَلاَ يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ...

nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger,

...وَلاَ يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ...

nor acknowledge the religion of truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book,

...حَتَّى يُعْطُواْ الْجِزْيَةَ ...

until they pay the Jizyah

C1281. Jizyah: the root meaning is compensation.

The derived meaning, which became the technical meaning, was a poll-tax levied from those who did not accept Islam, but were willing to live under the protection of Islam, and were thus tacitly willing to submit to its ideals being enforced in the Muslim State.

There was no amount permanently fixed for it. It was in acknowledgment that those whose religion was tolerated would in their turn not interfere with the preaching and progress of Islam. Imam Shafi'i suggests one dinar per year, which would be the Arabian gold dinar of the Muslim States.

The tax varied in amount, and there were exemptions for the poor, for females and children (according to Abu Hanifa), for slaves, and for monks and hermits. Being a tax on able-bodied males of military age, it was in a sense a commutation for military service. But see the next note.

... عَن يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَ ﴿٢٩﴾  

with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

C1282. 'An Yadin: literally, from the hand, has been variously interpreted. The hand being the symbol of power and authority. I accept the interpretation "in token of willing submission."

The Jizyah was thus partly symbolic and partly a commutation for military service, but as the amount was insignificant and the exemptions numerous, its symbolic character predominated. See the last note.

إِنَّ اللّهَ اشْتَرَى مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُم بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الجَنَّةَ...   

9: 111. Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their good; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise):

C1361. In a human bargain both sides give something and receive some advantage. In the divine bargain of Allah with man, Allah takes man's will and soul and his wealth and goods, and gives him in return ever-lasting Felicity.

Man fights in Allah's Cause and carries out His will. All that he has to give up is the ephemeral things of this world, while he gains eternal salvation, the fulfilment of his highest spiritual hopes, -a supreme achievement indeed.

... يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ... 

they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain:

... وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنجِيلِ وَالْقُرْآنِ... 

a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur'án:

C1362. We offer our whole selves and our possessions to Allah, and Allah gives us Salvation. This is the true doctrine of redemption: and we are taught that this is the doctrine not only of the Quran but of the earlier Revelations, -the original Law of Moses and the original Gospel of Jesus.

Any other view of redemption is rejected by Islam, especially that of corrupted Christianity, which thinks that some other person suffered for our sins and we are redeemed by his blood. It is our self-surrender that counts, not other people's merits.

Our complete self-surrender may include fighting for the cause, both spiritual and physical. As regards actual fighting with the sword there has been some difference in theological theories at different times, but very little in the practice of those who framed those theories.

The Jewish wars were ruthless wars of extermination. The Old Testament does not mince matters on this subject. In the New Testament St. Paul, in commending the worthy fruits of Faith, mentions Gideon. Barak, and other warriors of the Old Testament as his ideals, "Who through faith subdued kingdoms... waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens..." (Hebrews, 11:32-34).

The monkish morality of the Gospels in their present form has never been followed by any self-respecting Christian or other nation in history. Nor is it common-sense to ignore lust of blood in unregenerate man as a form of evil which has to be combated "within the limits, set by Allah" (9:112). (R).

... وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللّهِ... 

and who is more faithful to his Covenant than Allah?

... فَاسْتَبْشِرُواْ بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِي بَايَعْتُم بِهِ... 

Then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded:

... وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ﴿١١١﴾  

that is the achievement supreme.

Pickthall’s Version:

9: 29

Pickthall Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the religion of truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.

Transliteration Qa_tilul lazina la_ yu'minu_na billa_hi wa la_ bil yaumil a_khiri wa yuharrimu_na ma_ harramalla_hu wa rasu_luhu_ wa la_ yadinu_na dinal haqqi minal lazina u_tul kita_ba hatta_ yu'tul jizyata 'ay yadiw wa hum sa_giru_n(a).

9: 111

Pickthall Lo! Allah hath bought from the believers their lives and their wealth because the Garden will be theirs: they shall fight in the way of Allah and shall slay and be slain. It is a promise which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Quran. Who fulfilleth His covenant better than Allah? Rejoice then in your bargain that ye have made, for that is the supreme triumph.

Transliteration Innalla_ha-sytara_ minal mu'minina anfusahum wa amwa_lahum bi anna lahumul jannah(ta), yuqa_tilu_na fi sabililla_hi fa yaqtulu_na wa yuqtalu_na wa'dan 'alaihi haqqan fit taura_ti wal injili wal qura'a_n(i), wa man aufa_ bi 'ahdihi minalla_hi fa-stabsyiru_ bi bai'ikumul lazi ba_ya'tum bih(i), wa za_lika huwal fauzul 'azim(u).