in all their cases according to a single, general ruling.

It is therefore clear that distinguishing between groups—allowing one group to remain upon payment of the jizya, but not another, and permitting the animals slaughtered by some of those allowed to remain while prohibiting those slaughtered by others—has no basis in the authentically established Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Authentic, widely transmitted reports establish that Medina’s inhabitants included many Jews, both Arabs and non-Arabs, including Arabs from Banū Kināna, Himyar, and other tribes.

Thus, when the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent him to Yemen, he said:

“You are going to a people of the Book.”

He instructed him to take from every male who had reached puberty one dinar or its equivalent in Ma‘āfirī cloth. He made no distinction between those whose fathers had embraced that religion before its abrogation and those whose fathers had embraced it afterward. Likewise, he allowed the delegation from Najrān and other Christians, among whom were many Arabs, to remain upon payment of the jizya. The same applied to all other Arab Jews and Christians: neither the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, nor any of his caliphs or Companions distinguished between them. Rather, they accepted the jizya from them and permitted eating the animals they slaughtered and marrying their women. Likewise, they made no distinction between different groups of Byzantine Christians or others. Anyone who reflects upon the Prophet’s life will necessarily recognize all this and realize that such distinctions are an innovated position with no basis in the Sharia.

Third: A man’s being a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian, or bearing any similar religious designation is a ruling concerning him personally, based on his belief, will, speech, and actions. He does not acquire such a designation merely because it applies to his forefathers. A minor, however, shares his parents’ status in the rulings of this world because he is not independent. Once he reaches puberty and professes Islam or unbelief, his status is determined by his own religious affiliation, by the agreement of the Muslims. Thus, if his parents were