Musta'min
Encyclopedia
Al-mustaʾmīn is an Islam
ic classification for a non-Muslim
foreigner that enters Muslim lands
for less than a year and is legally protected by the Muslim authority. This would include merchants, messengers
, and students and other groups that could be given an amaan, or pledge of security. Musta'min are not required to pay jizya
unlike dhimmi
s who live in Muslim lands permanently. If a musta'min intends to stay for more than a year, he or she must accept the status of dhimmi and pay the jizya.
in Muslim territory except the holy cities of Mecca
and Medina
. A musta'min man is allowed to marry a dhimmi woman and take her back to his homeland; however, musta'min women do not have the same right. The musta'min are subject to civil and criminal law in the territory and may not do or say anything that could be construed as harming the interests of Islam. If caught doing so, the musta'min could be expelled or executed and the amaan grantor could also be penalized.
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic classification for a non-Muslim
Kafir
Kafir is an Arabic term used in a Islamic doctrinal sense, usually translated as "unbeliever" or "disbeliever"...
foreigner that enters Muslim lands
Dar al-Islam
The idea of geographical divisions along religious lines i.e. the dur is neither mentioned in the Qur'an nor in the sayings of the Prophet , which are considered the primary sources in Islamic jurisprudence...
for less than a year and is legally protected by the Muslim authority. This would include merchants, messengers
Courier
A courier is a person or a company who delivers messages, packages, and mail. Couriers are distinguished from ordinary mail services by features such as speed, security, tracking, signature, specialization and individualization of express services, and swift delivery times, which are optional for...
, and students and other groups that could be given an amaan, or pledge of security. Musta'min are not required to pay jizya
Jizya
Under Islamic law, jizya or jizyah is a per capita tax levied on a section of an Islamic state's non-Muslim citizens, who meet certain criteria...
unlike dhimmi
Dhimmi
A , is a non-Muslim subject of a state governed in accordance with sharia law. Linguistically, the word means "one whose responsibility has been taken". This has to be understood in the context of the definition of state in Islam...
s who live in Muslim lands permanently. If a musta'min intends to stay for more than a year, he or she must accept the status of dhimmi and pay the jizya.
Legal rights
Once given amaan, which can be granted by any sane and mature Muslim, the musta'min are free to engage in trade and travel. They are allowed to bring their family and children. They have permission to visit any cityCity
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Muslim territory except the holy cities of Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
and Medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
. A musta'min man is allowed to marry a dhimmi woman and take her back to his homeland; however, musta'min women do not have the same right. The musta'min are subject to civil and criminal law in the territory and may not do or say anything that could be construed as harming the interests of Islam. If caught doing so, the musta'min could be expelled or executed and the amaan grantor could also be penalized.