The Command to Fight People of the Book
While Quran 9:5 commands killing polytheists, verse 9:29 specifically targets Jews and Christians—the so-called "People of the Book" (Ahl al-Kitab). This verse establishes a different fate for them: not necessarily death, but subjugation and humiliation.
"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
Breaking Down the Verse
The Command to Fight
The verse begins with an unambiguous command: qātilū (قَاتِلُوا), meaning "fight" or "wage war." This is not defensive fighting—the verse commands Muslims to initiate warfare against Christians and Jews who:
- Don't believe in Allah (as Muslims define Him)
- Don't believe in the Last Day (as Islam teaches it)
- Don't follow Islamic law regarding halal and haram
- Haven't adopted Islam as "the religion of truth"
In other words, Christians and Jews are to be fought simply for remaining Christian or Jewish.
The Jizya: A Humiliation Tax
The verse specifies that fighting should continue "until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled." The word translated as "humbled" is sāghirūn (صَاغِرُونَ), which means "in a state of subjugation and humiliation."
This wasn't simply a tax—it was a ritual of humiliation designed to remind non-Muslims of their inferior status under Islamic rule.
Classical Understanding of Jizya
The Pact of Umar
The historical "Pact of Umar" outlined the conditions under which Christians and Jews could live under Muslim rule. These included:
- Prohibition on building new churches or synagogues
- Prohibition on repairing old ones
- Requirement to wear distinctive clothing to identify non-Muslims
- Prohibition on displaying crosses or other religious symbols publicly
- Requirement to stand when Muslims enter a room
- Prohibition on riding horses (only donkeys allowed)
- Requirement to pay jizya while standing, with the Muslim tax collector sitting
- In some implementations, being struck on the neck or head during payment
Ibn Kathir's Commentary
The famous Islamic scholar Ibn Kathir explained that this verse means Muslims should fight Christians and Jews "until they pay the jizyah with willing submission and become subservient to the Muslims." He emphasized that the payment must be accompanied by humiliation.
Reliance of the Traveller
This authoritative manual of Islamic law, certified by Al-Azhar University, states regarding jizya: "The non-Muslim poll tax is imposed on them because of their unbelief... The payment is a sign of their subjection to the rule of Islam and Muslims."
Historical Application
Throughout Islamic history, this verse justified:
- The conquest of Christian lands: Byzantine territories, North Africa, Spain, and the Balkans
- The subjugation of Jewish communities: From Arabia to Persia to North Africa
- The dhimmi system: A legal framework creating second-class citizenship for non-Muslims
- Forced conversions: When jizya became unbearable or prohibited entirely
The Contradiction with "No Compulsion"
Quran 2:256 states: "There is no compulsion in religion." Yet this verse commands fighting Christians and Jews until they either convert to Islam or accept humiliating subjugation. How can both be true?
Classical scholars resolved this through the doctrine of abrogation (naskh): Since Surah 9 was revealed later, it cancels the earlier peaceful verses. Modern Muslims often deny this, but classical scholarship is unanimous. For more on this, see our article on How Violence Replaced Peace.
Modern Application
While many modern Muslim-majority nations have abolished jizya (largely due to Western influence), the theological principle remains. In areas controlled by groups like ISIS, jizya was reimplemented against Christians, including:
- Iraq and Syria (2014-2019): Christians forced to pay jizya, convert, or flee
- Pakistan and Afghanistan: Christians and Hindus facing persecution
- Egypt: Coptic Christians attacked and discriminated against
Comparison with the Gospel
Jesus Christ never commanded His followers to fight, tax, or humiliate Jews who rejected Him. Instead, He taught:
"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." — Luke 6:27-28
The Apostle Paul wrote:
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them... If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." — Romans 12:14, 18
The contrast between Muhammad's commands and Jesus's teachings is undeniable. For more on Jesus in Islam vs. Christianity, see our Prophets section.
Questions to Consider
- How can fighting people for their beliefs be reconciled with religious freedom?
- If jizya is about integration (as some claim), why does the Quran emphasize humiliation?
- Why would a merciful God command His followers to humiliate others?
- If Islam respects Christians and Jews as "People of the Book," why command warfare against them?
- What does this verse reveal about the Islamic view of non-Muslims?
Conclusion
Quran 9:29 is not a historical oddity—it's a theological command that shaped 1,400 years of Islamic treatment of Christians and Jews. While modern Muslims may be uncomfortable with this verse, classical Islamic scholarship understood it as a permanent command to subjugate non-Muslims under Islamic rule.
For those investigating Islam, this verse raises fundamental questions about religious pluralism, human dignity, and whether Islam can coexist peacefully with other faiths without political dominance.
Related articles: The Sword Verse | Dhimmi Status: Second-Class Citizens | The Jizya Tax Explained