the Scripture, until they pay the jizyah by their own hand, while humbled” (At-Tawbah 9:29).

“Pay the jizyah” means: they hand over this poll-tax to us. The phrase “by hand” (ʿan yad) has two explanations given by the scholars:

1. “by hand” meaning under our dominance and authority; or
2. “by hand” meaning from one of their very own hands, such that the Jew or the Christian himself stretches out his hand and delivers it. Hence the scholars have said: were he to send it by a servant, we would not accept it until he personally came and handed it to the Muslim official.

Picture, then, what Allah wants from us and how Islam stands in such honor: the jizyah is levied upon them, and they themselves bring it—no matter how eminent any one of them may be—until he places it in the hand of the state official, with his own hand, and in a state of humility. He is not to arrive in pomp, with soldiers, entourages, and retinues; rather, he comes humbled.

Should someone object, “How can the teachings of Islam be like this? Is this not mere chauvinism?” we reply: Chauvinism for whom? Do Muslims seek chauvinism for themselves so that they may lord it over the people? Never. Muslims are the finest of people in character. What they seek is for the word of the Creator—who fashioned them and those others—to be supreme. That word cannot be supreme unless the Muslims themselves are uppermost. And when will the Muslims be uppermost? When they hold fast to the religion of Allah, truly, both outwardly and inwardly, and recognize that honor belongs to Allah, to His Messenger, and to the believers.

But if they abase themselves with regard to Allah’s religion, then humble themselves before the enemies of Allah, becoming mere followers of those enemies—where is the honor in that? Such a condition can never be one of honor.

Islam is the true religion, a religion of loftiness. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “So do not weaken and call for …”