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Hijaz in the jurists' rulings

الحجاز في أحكام الفقهاء

Linguistically, Hijaz comes from the root for barrier, the mountain range that separates the lowland of Tihama from Najd. 1 2 For the Shafi'is and Hanbalis, who limit the Prophetic ruling on the Arabian peninsula to the Hijaz, it covers Mecca, Medina, al-Yamama and its dependencies; the Minhaj lists Ta'if, Wajh, Jedda, Yanbu' and Khaybar among its towns. 2 3 The jurists count four rulings that apply to the Hijaz: no non-Muslim may settle in it, no non-Muslim may be buried in it, no place of worship for non-Muslims may stand in it, and its land pays alms (zakat) with no kharaj tax. 3 Outside the Hijaz, the rest of the Arabian land such as Yemen and Bahrain is included in the hadith for the Hanafis and Malikis but not for the Shafi'is and Hanbalis. 3

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Era
The Rashidun Caliphate
Region
Arabia
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Non-Muslim minorities under Muslim rule

Summary

Linguistically, Hijaz comes from the root for barrier, the mountain range that separates the lowland of Tihama from Najd. 1 2 For the Shafi'is and Hanbalis, who limit the Prophetic ruling on the Arabian peninsula to the Hijaz, it covers Mecca, Medina, al-Yamama and its dependencies; the Minhaj lists Ta'if, Wajh, Jedda, Yanbu' and Khaybar among its towns. 2 3 The jurists count four rulings that apply to the Hijaz: no non-Muslim may settle in it, no non-Muslim may be buried in it, no place of worship for non-Muslims may stand in it, and its land pays alms (zakat) with no kharaj tax. 3 Outside the Hijaz, the rest of the Arabian land such as Yemen and Bahrain is included in the hadith for the Hanafis and Malikis but not for the Shafi'is and Hanbalis. 3

People and things also explored

Ahl al-Dhimma (the protected non-Muslim subjects of an Islamic state, their covenant, rights, duties and limits)· Christianity in Arabia before Islam· Dhimma (the covenant of protection)· Jizya (capitation on treaty peoples)· Judaism in Arabia before Islam· Monk (rahib): his killing in jihad and the jizya on monks· Ta'liya (building above another building)· Tasliib (crucifixion as a punishment, and the cross as an object)

Sources

  1. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.6824
  2. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.6825
  3. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.6826
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Hijaz in the jurists' rulings”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/hijaz-legal-sense/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-23.

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Ahl al-Dhimma (the protected non-Muslim subjects of an Islamic state, their covenant, rights, duties and limits)

Ahl al-dhimma are non-Muslim subjects who remain in the land of Islam in their unbelief under a covenant with the imam, granting them safety for life and property in return for the poll tax and their submission to the rules of Islam. The dhimma is acquired by contract, by circumstance, by following a parent, by being found as a foundling, or by conquest. The jurists agree that a covenant may be made with the People of the Book and the Magians; the Hanafis and Malikis allow it for all unbelievers except idolaters, while the Shafi'is and Hanbalis in the sounder view do not. The covenant is perpetual, the protected person accepts the rules of Islam in dealings, and the men pay the poll tax. The general rule is that they have what we have and owe what we owe, though it is not applied without exception. They have the protection of the state and safe residence, but may not settle permanently in Mecca and Medina. They may choose their work and deal in property, with exceptions such as wine and pork, and a Muslim may not hire himself out for personal service; their testimony is not accepted against Muslims. They owe the poll tax, the land tax and the tithe on trade, and may not show in Muslim cities what Islam forbids; they are distinguished in dress. The covenant is broken by joining the land of war and by refusing the poll tax in the view of the majority, and by other acts in the views of the schools.