The Truth in Islam - Discover Authentic Islamic Knowledge

The System of Dhimmitude

Under Islamic law, non-Muslims living under Muslim rule are classified as dhimmis (ذمي) — literally "protected people." While this may sound benign, the dhimmi system establishes a formal structure of second-class citizenship, discrimination, and humiliation for Jews, Christians, and other non-Muslims who refuse to convert to Islam.

"Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture—[fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled." — Quran 9:29

The "Protection" Offered

The term dhimmi derives from dhimma, meaning a "pact of protection." But what kind of protection? Non-Muslims are "protected" from being killed or enslaved—but only if they accept a subordinate legal status and pay the jizya tax. This is protection offered by a conqueror to the conquered, not the religious freedom recognized in democratic societies.

The classical Islamic scholar Ibn Kathir explained that dhimmis are given protection "if they pay the jizya with willing submission and feel themselves subdued." In other words, protection comes at the price of perpetual humiliation.

The Pact of Umar: A Blueprint for Discrimination

The historical "Pact of Umar" (attributed to Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab) outlined the conditions imposed on dhimmis. These restrictions included:

Religious restrictions: No new churches or synagogues; no repairing of old ones; no public display of crosses or religious symbols; no ringing of church bells loudly; no public religious processions
Social restrictions: Must wear distinctive clothing to identify themselves as non-Muslims (the origin of medieval Europe's Jewish badges); cannot ride horses (only donkeys); must stand when Muslims enter; cannot have houses taller than Muslims' houses
Legal restrictions: Cannot testify against Muslims in court; cannot carry weapons; cannot serve in the military; dhimmi testimony worth less than Muslim testimony
Economic restrictions: Must pay the jizya tax; often faced additional taxes and economic disadvantages

Legal Inequality in Islamic Law

The authoritative manual of Islamic law Reliance of the Traveller, certified by Al-Azhar University, explicitly codifies dhimmi inferiority:

The blood money (diyah) for killing a dhimmi is half that of a Muslim
A Muslim cannot be executed for killing a dhimmi
Dhimmis cannot hold positions of authority over Muslims
A dhimmi man cannot marry a Muslim woman (though a Muslim man can marry a dhimmi woman)

This legal inequality means that justice under Islamic law fundamentally depends on one's religious identity, not universal human rights.

Testimonial Inequality

In Islamic courts, the testimony of non-Muslims holds less weight than Muslims, or may not be accepted at all in certain cases. The classical schools of Islamic jurisprudence agree that a dhimmi cannot testify against a Muslim in criminal cases. This made dhimmis vulnerable to abuse with little legal recourse.

The Jizya: More Than Just a Tax

The jizya wasn't merely a tax—it was a ritual of submission. Some classical scholars taught that it should be collected in a humiliating manner:

The dhimmi stands while the Muslim sits
The dhimmi's head may be struck or he may be pushed
Verbal abuse accompanying the collection: "Pay what you owe, enemy of Allah"
The money seized forcefully from the dhimmi's hand

The purpose was not merely revenue collection but a regular reminder of the dhimmi's inferior status.

Historical Application

The dhimmi system was applied throughout Islamic history wherever Muslims ruled:

In the Ottoman Empire, Christian and Jewish children were taken from their families in the devshirme system and converted to Islam
In Persia, Jews were forced to wear identifying badges
In Egypt, Coptic Christians faced periodic persecution and restrictions
In medieval Andalusia (Islamic Spain), despite myths of perfect tolerance, Christians and Jews lived under dhimmi restrictions

Modern Applications and Legacy

While most modern Muslim-majority nations don't explicitly use the term "dhimmi," discriminatory practices continue:

In Saudi Arabia, non-Muslims cannot become citizens, practice their religion publicly, or build houses of worship
In Pakistan, blasphemy laws disproportionately target Christians and other minorities
In Iran, Baha'is face systematic persecution; Christians and Jews have restricted rights
In Egypt, Coptic Christians require presidential approval to repair churches

Some Islamist groups, like ISIS, have attempted to revive the formal dhimmi system in territories they control.

Biblical Contrast: Equal Dignity

The biblical worldview presents a radically different understanding of human dignity and equality:

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." — Genesis 1:27

"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." — Galatians 3:28

Christianity teaches that every human being bears the image of God and possesses inherent dignity and worth, regardless of their faith. While Christians are called to share the Gospel, this is through persuasion and love, not through creating a legal system of discrimination and humiliation.

Jesus Himself ministered to Samaritans, Romans, and others outside the Jewish faith, treating them with dignity and compassion, not as second-class people to be subdued.

Questions to Consider

How can a religion claim to promote justice while establishing legal inequality based on belief?
If Islam is truly for all people, why does Islamic law create a permanent underclass of non-Muslims?
Can a society that institutionalizes religious discrimination truly be called just or tolerant?
How does the dhimmi system compare with the principles of human rights and equality in democratic societies?
Why would a loving God command that people of different faiths be humiliated and subjugated?

Conclusion

The dhimmi system reveals a fundamental aspect of Islamic law: it establishes a religious hierarchy with Muslims at the top and everyone else in subordinate positions. This isn't a historical aberration but a system codified in Islamic law and based on Quranic commands.

While modern Muslims may distance themselves from these practices, they remain part of authoritative Islamic jurisprudence, waiting to be implemented wherever Islamic law gains political power. Understanding the dhimmi system is essential for anyone evaluating Islam's claims to be a religion of peace, justice, and equality.

Dhimmi Status: Second-Class Citizens