ahl al-kitab
(ahl al-kitāb)
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| (Language: Arabic) |
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| Short Description: |
Term referring to those communities of non-Muslim peoples who have been given a sacred scripture by God. |
| Long Description: |
"People of the Book"; a Qur’ānic term referring to those communities of non-Muslim peoples—particularly Jews and Christians—who have been given a sacred scripture by God. These peoples were granted special status and protection under Islamic law provided they paid a tax to the Islamic state or were willing to participate in jihād along with the Muslims. |
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| Source(s): |
Islam, Fundamentalism, and the Betrayal of Tradition, edited by Dr. Joseph Lumbard |
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