MCQ Detailed View

Kharaj was a land tax imposed on non-Muslim landowners and cultivators under Islamic rule. It was one of the key components of Islamic fiscal policy during the early caliphates, especially under the Rashidun and Umayyad administrations. Unlike Jizya, which was a personal tax on non-Muslim adult males in return for protection and exemption from military service, Kharaj was levied specifically on land regardless of the religion of the owner, though primarily non-Muslims paid it on conquered lands.

Kharaj helped fund the Islamic state and its public services. The amount varied depending on the fertility, productivity, and size of the land. Muslim landowners typically paid Zakat, while non-Muslim landholders were taxed under the Kharaj system. The concept ensured economic justice while allowing non-Muslims to retain ownership and continue cultivation of their lands.

The implementation of Kharaj followed fair and fixed measures, guided by principles laid down during the Caliphate of Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (R.A). He institutionalized this taxation system to ensure sustainability without injustice or exploitation.

🟩 Key Facts:

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  Kharaj was a tax on agricultural land paid by non-Muslim cultivators.

  
  


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  It was different from Jizya, which was a personal protection tax.

  
  


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  Introduced and systematized during Hazrat Umar’s (R.A) caliphate.

  
  


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  It applied to conquered lands where non-Muslims remained landowners.

  
  


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  The tax amount depended on the land’s fertility and productivity.

  
  


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  Kharaj was a major source of income for the early Islamic state.

  
  


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  Muslims paid Zakat on wealth and land, while non-Muslims paid Kharaj.

  
  


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  The system allowed non-Muslims to live and work freely under Islamic rule.