History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c45.s7.13

v3.c45.s7.13

For permission to live in an Islamic State the unbeliever had to pay a tax called JAZIYA,* which means substitute money, i.e., the price of indulgence. It was first imposed by Muhammad, who bade his followers “fight those who do not profess the true faith, till they pay jaziya with the hand in humility.” (Quran, ix. 29.) The last two words of this command have been taken by the Muslim commentators to mean that the tax should be levied in a manner humiliating to the taxpayers. As the scholars and divines of the time informed Aurangzib, the books on Muslim Canon Law lay down that the proper method of collecting the jaziya is for the zimmi to pay the tax personally; if he sends the money by the hand of an agent it is to be refused; the taxed person must come on foot and make the payment standing, while the receiver should be seated and after placing his hand above that of the zimmi should take the money and cry out, "O, zimmi! pay the commutation money."