The money collected from the unbelievers who live under the...

The money collected from the unbelievers who live under the province of Islam does not come under the heading of 'Khums' or 'Zakat' but rather under the heading of the 'Jizyah' tax. This applies whether the unbelievers are 'People of the Book' like J ews or Christians or Zoroastrians, or others like the Idolaters or the Polytheists. The 'Jizyah' tax collected from those unbelievers who are not under the auspices o f Islam.

This is collected because of the obduracy of those to whom the truth has appeared, as the Prophet (S) did with the Christians of Najran when he discussed with their learned men the truthfulness of Islam but they dismissed it. The Prophet (S) then disputed further with them but they still resisted. After that there was nothing left but their obstinacy. The obstinate person should become less obstinate in the face of what should return him gradually to the truth.

Allah states in the Qur'an regarding the Christians of Najran: {The similitude of Jesus in the sight of Allah is as that of Adam, He created him from pure earth then said to him 'Be', and so he was. This is the truth from your Lord so do not be amongst the doubters.

And if anyone disputes with you in this matter after knowledge has come to you, say: 'Come let us gather together our sons and your sons, our wives and your wives, ourselves and yourselves, then let us earnestly pray and invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars.' This is the true account: there is no god but Allah, and Allah is indeed The Exalted in Power, The Wise. But if they turn back, Allah has full knowledge of those who cause mischief. Say: ' O People of the Book!

Come to a common parlance between us and you: that we wo rship none but Alla h and we associate no partners with Him and we take no lords from amongst ourselves instead of Allah. But if they turn back then say: Bear witness that we are Muslims.} 5 4 The Jizyah tax is paid by the non-Muslims, as opposed to the Khums and Za kat taxes paid by the Muslims. 5 The Holy Qur'a n: The Family of 'Emran (3): 59-64.

The Prophet's wars were fought in self defence When all these aforementioned ways and means have been exhausted, then comes the turn of the defensive war. All the wars of the Prophet (S) were of this nature. For example, the first clash of the Muslims with the Qureish occurred when the raiding party of 'Abdullah ibn Jahsh came up against the caravans of the Qureish which were coming from al-Sham (Syria) led by Abu Sufyan.