-=>> BOB KLAHN wrote to ALL <=-  
    
   EH>> I couldn't care less what they do to the BoM. Their actions  
   EH>> aren't the same as Islam requiring me to be subjugated and  
   EH>> pay "jizya" (poll tax) to the Muslim overlords.  
    
   BK>>  Since "Islam" does not require any such thing, you need a  
   BK>>  reality check.  
    
   GP> Islam does require the tax in Muslim countries.  Muslims  
   GP> pay zakat, People of the Book and nonbelievers pay jizya.  
    
   GP> My understanding is, however, that some countries no longer  
   GP> strictly follow the rules of zakat and jizya (maybe having  
   GP> a newer tax structure?), but there are still some which do.  
   GP>  The rules have changed over time, and likely are different  
   GP>  now than they once were; for instance, once, moving away  
   GP>  from Muslim territory was punishable by enslavement were  
   GP>  they caught.  
    
   Ok, did a bit more research. I have yet to figure out how you  
   have a 'poll tax' without a vote. See, I understand a poll tax  
   as a tax to be allowed to vote. Is there any other form?  
    
   What I find is the term "poll tax" seems to be a misnomer. It's  
   just a tax.  
    
   I also found, the tax included an exemption to military service.  
   Which implies Muslims had universal military service, at least  
   in the early days.  
    
   Also, I wonder about the word 'jizya'. Why do they use that word  
   instead of translating it? I wonder if that has changed over the  
   centuries. I did find, the 'jizya' is Sunni, not just Islamic.  
   The Shia have a different system. Which makes me think the term  
   "jizya" was Sunni also, perhaps something changed over the  
   centuries, originally meaning something else.  
    
   Many Islamic majority countries are officially secular. I posted  
   something on this a while back. And don't forget, Sharia is  
   unique to every Islamic group. Even among the same branch of  
   Islam Sharia differs from community to community.  
    
   Now, moving away from Muslim territory for who? Muslims or  
   non-Muslims? From what I have read leaving Muslim territory was  
   always the proper alternative to paying the tax.  
    
   OTOH, again, national law might well be different. For example,  
   non-Muslims are supposed to be able to practice their relgion,  
   but Saud Arabia is clearly in violation of that rule.  
    
   A big difference is, Zakat is like a tithe, and is given to the  
   poor. One of the pillars of Islam. This may not be adhered to in  
   many countries, as Muslims actually seem to be no more able to  
   follow the teachings of their own religion than Christians are.  
    
   Summary: The whole thing seems to depend on the Islamic group in  
   question.  
    
    
    
  BOB KLAHN bob.klahn@sev.org   http://home.toltbbs.com/bobklahn  
    
  ... "Dave, put down those Windows Vista disks. Dave. Daaavvveee..." - HAL  
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