Sparing the lives of non – Muslims was first applied to the monotheistic religions such as Christian and Jews, later it extended to include others such as Zoroastrian and Hindu as the Muslim empire expanded. The mercy came from a phrase in the Koran calling Christians and Jews. “Ahlul Kitab” or “the people of the book”. They had to pay tax in return for their safety. They are un allowed to commit any crime small or big. In practice a large number of them gradually converted to Islam, as they were essentially second – class citizens.
The jizya and kharaj (taxes) were a crushing burden for the non – Muslim peasantry who seeked out a bare living in a subsistence economy i.e. a standard of living only just sufficient to sustain life.
There are three patterns of inequalities performed in law and practice of Islam
1. Master and slave
2. Man and woman
3. Believer and unbeliever