"Dhimmis" Meaning
Dhimmis (pronounced "duh-MEEZ") is a term used to describe non-Muslims who live under the protection of the Islamic state, usually as second-class citizens. In the early Islamic period, dhimmis were subject to certain rules and restrictions, such as paying a special tax called the jizya, and were often excluded from certain social and economic opportunities. The term is derived from the Greek word "dhimota," which meant "pledged" or "protected."
"Dhimmis" Examples
Usage Examples of "Dhimmis"
Dhimmis is a noun that refers to non-Muslim subjects of the Islamic State who pay protection money and are granted certain rights and privileges in return. Here are 5 usage examples:
Under the Ottoman Empire, Christians and Jews were referred to as dhimmis, and were required to pay a special tax, the jizya, to the Muslim ruler in exchange for protection. [Example: "The dhimmis lived in a state of relative freedom, albeit under the watchful eye of their Muslim overlords."]
In medieval Islamic Spain, various groups of people, including Christians and Jews, were classified as dhimmis, and were subject to a range of restrictions and discriminatory laws. [Example: "Despite their relative freedom, the dhimmis faced numerous restrictions and humiliations at the hands of their Muslim conquerors."]
In modern-day Pakistan, some Christian communities are still referred to as dhimmis, and face discrimination and persecution at the hands of Muslim-majority society. [Example: "The dhimmis in this town were forced to flee their homes after a series of violent attacks by Muslim extremists."]
The system of dhimmis was criticized by some scholars for perpetuating discrimination against non-Muslims, and for legitimizing the ideology of Muslim superiority. [Example: "The forced conversions of dhimmis to Islam were seen by many as a means of `purifying' the community and eradicating non-Muslim influences."]
In India, the term "dhimmis" is sometimes used to refer to Hindu and Sikh communities that were subject to Islamic conquest and conversion. [Example: "The Mughal Empire's policies towards dhimmis were marked by both tolerance and cruelty, depending on the specific circumstances and the whims of the ruler."]