Hadhrat Umar and Jizyah

Once Hadhrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) during his khilaafate saw an old blind man begging. Hadhrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) asked: “Who are you?” The old man said: “I am a Yahudi (Jew)?” Hadhrat Umar: “What has constrained you to beg?” Yahudi: “Paying Jizyah, needs of life and old age.”

     Hadhrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) gently held the old man’s hand and took him to his (Hadhrat Umar’s) home where he gave the Yahudi whatever he had. Then, he issued the following instruction to the treasurer of the Baitul Maal:

     “Investigate this old man and other poor and destritute persons like him. By Allah! We cannot be just if we take from them (Jizyah) during their youth and abandon them when they are old…”

     Thereafter, Hadhrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) exempted all poor Zimmis (non-Muslim citizens) from payment of the Jizyah tax.