Question

Jizya tax was imposed on _______________.
a. Persians
b. Muhammadans
c. Hindus
d. Foreign Visitors

Answer 1

Hint: The Jizya tax was initiated by Qutb-ud-din-Aibak. It was a per capita tax collected on a yearly basis.

Complete Step by Step Answer: Jizya is a type of tax imposed on non-Muslim subjects who lived in states governed by Islamic law. These were financial charges taken from permanent non-Muslim residents. Only mentally sound, free and adult males would pay this tax and they were known as Dhimmis. Handicaps, women, children, elders, unhealthy monks, hermits and monks were exempted from paying Jizya. Also, the dhimmis who had joined the military were also not required to pay this tax.
There is actually no mention of a specific amount or rate of Jizya in any books. Basically, this tax was meant to be like a protection fee or for exemption from military service or even to practice non-Muslim faith in the rule of a Muslim ruler given by a non-Muslim subject to its Muslim ruler.
The Jizya tax was first started by the founder of the Mamluk dynasty, Qutb-ud-din Aibak. It was a main source of Income along with kharja (also sometimes known as land tax) for some of the Islamic polities. Jizya was usually a fixed amount depending on the financial conditions of the payer.
Now, studying the various options given.
Option a- Persians were considered as Muslim subjects and Jizya was not applicable on them by the Muslim rulers. So, this is an incorrect answer.
Option b- Muhammadans are also a part of Muslim subjects and therefore Jizya was not imposed on them. Thus, it is a wrong answer.
Option c- Hindus were the non-Muslim subjects on whom Jizya tax was imposed. They were called Dhimmis. Hence, this is the correct answer.
Option d- Foreign visitors, even though they were non-Muslims were exempted from paying Jizya tax they were living temporarily in the areas ruled by Muslim rulers. So, this is also an incorrect alternative.
Therefore, option ‘c’ is correct.

Note: Jizya tax was abolished by the Mughal ruler Akbar but was reintroduced by Aurangzeb in the year 1679.