9. [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, 9H after Tabuk]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ...   

9: 28.  O ye who believe!

...إِنَّمَا الْمُشْرِكُونَ نَجَسٌ ...

truly the pagans are unclean;

C1278. Unclean: because Muslims are enjoined to be strict in cleanliness, as well as in purity of mind and heart, so that their word can be relied upon.

... فَلاَ يَقْرَبُواْ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ بَعْدَ عَامِهِمْ هَـذَا...

so let them not, after this year of theirs, approach the Sacred Mosque.

C1279. This year of theirs: there is a two-fold meaning:

1.     now that you have complete control of Makkah and are, charged with the purity of worship there, shut out all impurity from this year:

2.     you have seen how the Pagans have behaved this year; their year of power and misuse of that power may be called their year; it is over, and now you Muslims are responsible.

...وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ عَيْلَةً فَسَوْفَ يُغْنِيكُمُ اللّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ إِن شَاء...

And if ye fear poverty, soon will Allah enrich you, if He wills, out of His bounty,

C1280. The concourse in Makkah added to the profits of trade and commerce. "But fear not," we are told: "the Pagans are a waning power, bound to disappear, and you should strengthen your own community, that they may more than counter-balance the apparent loss of custom; and Allah has other means of improving your economic position."

This actually happened. The Pagans were extinguished from Arabia, and the concourse of pilgrims from all parts of the world increased the numbers more than a hundred-fold.

Here is commonsense, wisdom, and statesmanship, even if we look at it from a purely human point of view.

...إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٢٨﴾

for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

قَاتِلُواْ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَلاَ بِالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ...   

9: 29.  Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day,

...وَلاَ يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ...

nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger,

...وَلاَ يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ...

nor acknowledge the religion of truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book,

...حَتَّى يُعْطُواْ الْجِزْيَةَ ...

until they pay the Jizyah

C1281. Jizyah: the root meaning is compensation.

The derived meaning, which became the technical meaning, was a poll-tax levied from those who did not accept Islam, but were willing to live under the protection of Islam, and were thus tacitly willing to submit to its ideals being enforced in the Muslim State.

There was no amount permanently fixed for it. It was in acknowledgment that those whose religion was tolerated would in their turn not interfere with the preaching and progress of Islam. Imam Shafi'i suggests one dinar per year, which would be the Arabian gold dinar of the Muslim States.

The tax varied in amount, and there were exemptions for the poor, for females and children (according to Abu Hanifa), for slaves, and for monks and hermits. Being a tax on able-bodied males of military age, it was in a sense a commutation for military service. But see the next note.

... عَن يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَ ﴿٢٩﴾  

with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

C1282. 'An Yadin: literally, from the hand, has been variously interpreted. The hand being the symbol of power and authority. I accept the interpretation "in token of willing submission."

The Jizyah was thus partly symbolic and partly a commutation for military service, but as the amount was insignificant and the exemptions numerous, its symbolic character predominated. See the last note.

Pickthall’s Version:

9: 28

Pickthall O ye who believe! The idolaters only are unclean. So let them not come near the Inviolable Place of Worship after this their year. If ye fear poverty (from the loss of their merchandise) Allah shall preserve you of His bounty if He will. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise.

Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ innamal musyriku_na najasun fala_ yaqrabul masjidal hara_ma ba'da 'a_mihim ha_za_, wa in khiftum 'ailatan fa saufa yugnikumulla_hu min fadlihi in sya_'(a), innnalla_ha 'alimun hakim(un).

9: 29

Pickthall Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the religion of truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.

Transliteration Qa_tilul lazina la_ yu'minu_na billa_hi wa la_ bil yaumil a_khiri wa yuharrimu_na ma_ harramalla_hu wa rasu_luhu_ wa la_ yadinu_na dinal haqqi minal lazina u_tul kita_ba hatta_ yu'tul jizyata 'ay yadiw wa hum sa_giru_n(a).