Chapter on Taxation (kharaj) and Jizya (poll Tax)
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 2|Book 1|Chapter 10
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Volume 2, Book 1, Chapter 10
Chapter on Taxation (kharaj) and Jizya (poll Tax)
وَ سَأَلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنْ سِيرَةِ اَلْإِمَامِ فِي اَلْأَرْضِ اَلَّتِي فُتِحَتْ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَقَالَ «إِنَّ أَمِيرَ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَدْ سَارَ فِي أَهْلِ اَلْعِرَاقِ بِسِيرَةٍ فَهِيَ إِمَامٌ لِسَائِرِ اَلْأَرَضِينَ» وَ قَالَ «إِنَّ أَرْضَ اَلْجِزْيَةِ لاَ تُرْفَعُ عَنْهَا اَلْجِزْيَةُ وَ إِنَّمَا اَلْجِزْيَةُ عَطَاءُ اَلْمُجَاهِدِينَ وَ اَلصَّدَقَاتُ لِأَهْلِهَا اَلَّذِينَ سَمَّى اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ مِنَ اَلْجِزْيَةِ شَيْءٌ» ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ «مَا أَوْسَعَ اَلْعَدْلَ إِنَّ اَلنَّاسَ يَسْتَغْنُونَ إِذَا عُدِلَ فِيهِمْ وَ تُنْزِلُ اَلسَّمَاءُ رِزْقَهَا وَ تُخْرِجُ اَلْأَرْضُ بَرَكَتَهَا بِإِذْنِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ».
Muhammad ibn Muslim asked Abu Ja’far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام about the policy of the Imam concerning the lands conquered after the Prophet of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace and blessings be upon him and his family. The Imam عليه السلام replied: "Indeed, Amir al-Mu'minin (Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام) established a policy in Iraq that serves as a model for all other lands." He added: "The jizya is never lifted from the lands of jizya. It is the due of the fighters (mujahideen), while sadaqat is designated for those whom Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Glorious, has specified in His Book. They (the fighters) have no share in the jizya." The Imam then said: "How expansive justice is! When people are treated justly, they will prosper. The skies will send down their sustenance, and the earth will yield its blessings by the permission of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Glorious."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh