Aid for Destitute Dhimmīs

In the Islāmic State, poor and helpless non-Muslim citizens were also provided financial support. On one occassion, when Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar(ra) noticed an old Jewish man begging, he asked him, “What is the matter?” He responded, “I have become old and since my eyesight has fallen weak I cannot work; I also owe Jizyah.” Upon hearing this, Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar(ra) became restless and immediately took the man to his home and gave him an appropriate amount of aid. Then, he summoned the Officer of Baitul-Māl and said, “What a grave injustice is it that Jizyah is being levied upon such people! We have been ordered to help the poor, not burden them with tax.” After this, a general order was instituted that such people would be exempt from Jizyah, and, deserving people of this nature would receive a regular stipend from Baitul-Māl.1 What to talk of Dhimmīs, there is even examples in Islām of aid being given to combatant enemies. As such, we have seen in the accounts of 5 A.H., that when a famine struck Makkah, the Holy Prophet(sa) sent some silver to the people of Makkah of his own accord in order to assist them,2 although the Quraish of Makkah were still at war with Islām at the time.