Re: Bahai jihad?

[Rich Ater]

In Gilberto's defense, I believe that Umar actually deferred the paying of the jizya in many instances. Rich Gilberto Simpson wrote: On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 12:34:27 -0800 (PST), Ahang Rabbani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: You ought to be kidding! "Jizya" was a tax imposed on minority religions as a way to harass and contain them, and to ensure they were kept economically dirt poor! I have lived in many parts of the world with Muslim majority and in all those places the tyranny of Muslims towards the minority groups was most evident. Gilberto: >From what I've read, the amount of jizya varied alot in Islamic history. At some points it was large, at some points it was small and nominal. The best explanation I've heard for it is that it literally was protection-money in the sense that non-Muslims would be exempt from jihad but they still benefitted from protection by the state so they gave money to compensate for it. When non-Muslims participated in jihad they would often be exempted from the jizya. I would certainly admit that it has the potential to be abused (virtually all rules do) but jizya actually is ordained in the Quran, so if you really think it is necessarily a form of harrassment and tyranny then you should take it up with the author. Peace Gilberto __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:archive@mail-archive.com To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu