Islam_in_Focus_text

tion. In some areas they were warmly welcomed by the na-
tives, who had long been oppressed and subjugated by the
foreign powers of Rome and Persia. In some other areas they
were first to offer Islam to those who were prepared to ac-
cept it, and there were many. Those who did not embrace Is-
lam were asked to pay tributes equivalent to the Islamic tax
(Zakah). The reasons for demanding this kind of tax were:
(i) That they wanted to be sure that taxpayer knew what
he was doing, and that Islam was presented to him but he re-
jected it v/ith his own free will and choice;
(ii) That they undertook to protect the taxpayer and guar-
antee his security and freedom in a way equal to that of the
Muslim himself, because any danger to him was a danger to
his Muslim compatriot- and, to defend the Muslim, they had
to defend the non-Muslim and insure his security:
(iii) That the new state of affairs demanded the support
and co-operation of all sectors, Muslims and non-Muslims
alike: the former by Zakah, the latter by tributes, which were
all spent in the public interest; and
(iv) That they wanted to be certain that he was not hos-
tile to them and their new brethren, or inclined to make trou-
bles for his Muslim compatriots.
Those who rejected Islam and refused to pay tributes in
collaboration with other sectors to support their state made it
hard for themselves. They resorted to a hostile course from