Dhimmi

A Dhimmi, or Zimmi (Arabic ذمّي), as defined in classical Islamic legal and political literature, is a person living in a Muslim state who is a member of an officially tolerated non-Islamic religion. The term literally means person of the dhimma, the security treaty signed with the Muslim state. In both legal theory and practice, dhimmis have fewer legal rights and obligations than Muslims.

Background

The Arabic word "dhimmi" is an adjective derived from the noun "dhimma", which means "being in the care of". The term initially applied to "People of the Book" living in lands under Muslim rule, namely Jews and Christians. Over time Muslims extended this category to Zoroastrians, Mandeans, and Sikhs. Many, but not all, extend this to Hindus.

Related Topics:
Arabic - Root - People of the Book - Jew - Christians - Zoroastrian - Mandean - Sikh - Hindus

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The origin of the dhimma is traced to Sura 9:29 of the Qur'an, which calls Muslims to fight against the People of the Book until they pay the jizya head tax and are humbled.http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=9&tid=20980

Related Topics:
Sura - Qur'an - People of the Book - Jizya

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Ibn Kathir, in his classic tafsir on the Qur'an, defines the status of dhimmis in reference to Sura 9:29:

Related Topics:
Ibn Kathir - Tafsir - Qur'an

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:"Allah said 'until they pay the jizyah' - if they do not choose to embrace Islam; 'with willing submission' - in defeat and subservience; 'and feel themselves subdued' - disgraced, humiliated and belittled. Therefore, Muslims are not allowed to honor the people of the dhimmah or elevate them above Muslims, for they are miserable, disgraced and humiliated."http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=9&tid=20986

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In support of this exegesis Ibn Kathir also cites the Pact of Umar (text), a treaty attributed to Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Caliph, to deal with non-Muslims in territories conquered by Muslims.

Related Topics:
Exegesis - Pact of Umar - Umar ibn al-Khattab - Caliph

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In the Middle Ages, the dhimmi concept was tolerant by the standards of other monotheistic religions. Christians and Jews were allowed to live in peace within Muslim societies, on the condition (also required of Muslim subjects) of submission to their rulers. Many Christian and Jewish scientists prospered under Muslim rule, an example being the Muslim state of Cordoba in Southern Spain . Maimonides, considered by some the greatest Jewish philosopher and Talmudic sage, lived in Muslim Spain, North Africa and Egypt. However, he and his family fled Spain to escape religious persecution after Cordoba was conquered by the less tolerant Almohad dynasty from the Almoravids, and then fled from North Africa as well, before eventually finding refuge in Egypt. Some of his more famous works were his Iggereth Teiman, a letter written to raise the spirits of the severely oppressed Jews of Yemen, and Iggereth HaShmad, an essay on the legal implications of forced conversion to Islam.

Related Topics:
Cordoba - Maimonides - Talmud - Almohad - Almoravids - Egypt

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As late as the 16th century, religious tolerance in Europe was greatest within the Ottoman Empire.

Related Topics:
16th century - Ottoman Empire

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