Before I delve into the subject of Aurangzeb's jizya tax, or taxing the non-Muslims, it is worthwhile to point out that jizya is nothing more than a war tax which was collected only from able-bodied young non-Muslim male citizens living in a Muslim country who did not want to volunteer for the defense of the country. That is, no such tax was collected from non-Muslims who volunteered to defend the country. This tax was not collected from women, and neither from immature males nor from disabled or old male citizens. For payment of such taxes, it became incumbent upon the Muslim government to protect the life, property and wealth of its non-Muslim citizens. If for any reason the government failed to protect its citizens, especially during a war, the taxable amount was returned. It should be pointed out here that zakat (2.5% of savings) and ushr (10% of agricultural products) were collected from all Muslims, who owned some wealth (beyond a certain minimum, called nisab). They also paid sadaqah, fitrah, and khums. None of these were collected from any non-Muslim. As a matter of fact, the per capita collection from Muslims was several fold that of non-Muslims. Further to Auranzeb's credit is his abolition of a lot of taxes, although this fact is not usually mentioned. In his book Mughal Administration, Sir Jadunath Sarkar, foremost historian on the Mughal dynasty, mentions that during Aurangzeb's reign in power, nearly sixty-five types of taxes were abolished, which resulted in a yearly revenue loss of fifty million rupees from the state treasury. While some Hindu historians are retracting the lies, the textbooks and historic accounts in Western countries have yet to admit their error and set the record straight.
RE:Jizya - Why dont you accept it
by Perv Sharma on Mar 30, 2007 09:37 AM Permalink
Rafi are you gone mad. The tax called Jizya would be returned by the emperor if he couldn't protect his citizens from war. Mad chap a lost emperor wouldn't be able to pay back anything. A lost king is no longer a king. Which history did you study that a lost king will start refunding back taxes.
If U say so, then Aurangzeb should have returned back the jizya to many people in South because the Marathas more or less defeated him in many places. How much was returned.
RE:Jizya - Why dont you accept it
by Avi Priten on Mar 31, 2007 02:15 PM Permalink
rafiuddin farooqui, is i think a decendent of Aurangzeb. Bahut bakwas karta hai Rediff per.
Gand may dum hai to apna address reveal kar na. sala Katwa
