Jizya

jizya

 or jizyah

Poll tax that early Islamic rulers demanded from their non-Muslim subjects. This tax applied especially to followers of Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism, who were tolerated in the practice of their religion because they were “peoples of the book.” Originally intended to be used for charitable purposes, the revenues from the jizya were paid into the private treasuries of rulers, and the Ottoman sultans used the proceeds to pay military expenses. Many converted to Islam in order to escape the tax.

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Jizya 

a poll tax paid by the non-Muslim population in the Arabian Caliphate and then in other Muslim states. The jizyawas levied on men who had reached their majority; women, children, old men, slaves, poor people, and monks were exempted. Payment was made mainly in money but also in kind. In the Ottoman Empire thejizya existed until the end of the 18th century, when it was merged with the haraj.

REFERENCE

“Djizya.” In Encyclopédic de I Islam, 2nd ed., vol. 2. Leiden-Pairs, 1965. Pages 573-81.