—only four months earlier—and that a later delegation from among them came declaring their Islam. This, however, took place after the delegation of the Christians, for Ibn Saʿd relates that al-ʿĀqib and as-Sayyid embraced Islam subsequently, and the covenant that involved payment of the jizya was concluded solely with the Christians.

The verse mandating the jizya is the Almighty’s statement:

“Fight those who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day, who do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, and who do not embrace the religion of truth, from among those who were given the Scripture, until they pay the jizya with their own hands, humbled.” [At-Tawbah, 9:29]

This is the so-called “Sword Verse” with respect to the People of the Book; it explicitly mentions fighting them, should they refuse to believe, until they pay the jizya. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—did not take jizya from anyone until after this verse had been revealed.

Indeed, scholars have stated that the people of Najrān were the first from whom jizya was taken, as authorities such as az-Zuhrī and others have reported. By unanimous agreement, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—had never imposed jizya on anyone before the descent of this verse, neither upon the pagans nor upon the People of the Book. For that reason he did not levy it upon the Jews of Qaynuqāʿ, an-Naḍīr, or Qurayẓah, nor did he impose it on the inhabitants of Khaybar, for Khaybar was conquered in the seventh year, prior to the revelation of the verse.