Dhimmitude

From WikiIslam

The term Dhimmitude is derived from Dhimmi, which means a non-Muslim living in an Islamic country. Robert Spencer has defined it as "the status that Islamic law, the Sharia, mandates for non-Muslims, primarily Jews and Christians". According to orthodox Islamic law, those who are qualified for Dhimmi status within the Muslim society are the free (i.e non-slaves) Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians, and adherents of other religions, as well as those without religion, are asked to convert to Islam, if they refuse they are to be forced to do so. ^[1] However, historically, adherents of religions other than these three, such as Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs, have lived within Muslim states as Dhimmis.

The Dhimmis pay the Jizyah tax, and are exempted from military service. As established by the Pact of Omar, Dhimmis, unlike the Muslims, are not allowed to carry arms of any kind. The pact also declares that Dhimmis are forhbidden to ride horses and camels, and may only ride donkeys, and only on packsaddles.