On Jizya as a Motive for the Tabuk Expedition: on the Ayat 9: 28–29

Abstract

This publication continues the critical study (started in the fourth issue of the journal for 2019) of the dominant thesis in traditional Islamic political and legal theology about Jizya as a tribute from Non-Muslims, allegedly established by the Prophet Muhammad. In the first part of the publication presented in this issue, the traditions about the descent of verses 9: 28–29 (especially 9: 29, later known as the “Jizya verse”) as the reason for the Prophet’s establishment of the Tabuk expedition are subjected to a formal (hadithological) and substantive analysis. The exploration is conducted in line with the Reformist Modernist discourse, focusing on the disclosure of the truly humanistic spirit of prophetic Islam and the pacifist pluralistic attitude of the Qur’anic message.