Al-Baydawi (thirteenth century c.E.) on IX.29:
,an yad, out of hand: indicating the condition of those who pay the tribute. Out of a hand that gives willingly, in this way indicating that they submit obediently; or out of their hand, meaning that they pay the tribute with their own hands, instead of sending it through others; no one is allowed to use a proxy in this case. Or again: out of abundance (`an ghind); thus some claim that the tribute should not be demanded of the poor. Or still: by a hand which has power over them, hence indicating that they are humbled and powerless. "Out of hand" could also refer to the condition of the tribute. Meaning: paying the tribute in ready cash which is handed over from hand to hand.; or, as a charity, allowed to the one who is obliged to pay tribute. It is thus a great charity that they are spared from the tribute.
And have been humbled: brought low. According to Ibn Abbas the dhimmi is struck on the neck (with the hand) when the tribute is collected from him.
... The tribute is only demanded of the People of the Book [which includes the Zoroastrians].... But tribute may be not be collected from other unbelievers. However Abu Hanifa says it should be collected from them ... Malik (ibn Anas) says the tribute should be collected from all unbelievers except the apostates.... I
Ibn Kathir (fourteenth century C.E.]: " `Until they pay the tribute out of their own hands; plainly humiliated.' The believers should then fight the People of the Book until they pay the required tax, and cower. Those who live in a Muslim country in total security, enjoying the protection of the believers ought to be found in this state: humiliated and submitted to the tax." 2
Bell:
Jizya, only here, in later Muslim law was the special poll-tax levied upon non-Muslims living under Muslim rule, and was distinguished from the kharaj which rested on land. But it is doubtful if this distinction was introduced before the second [Muslim] century; and probably the word here is equivalent to "tribute" in general.
An yad, the exact meaning of the phrase is uncertain Baydawi gives "submissively" or "in person"; the latter is adopted by Becker (El art. Djizya) Another possible sense is "out of hand," i.e. at once, on the spot, in ready money.3
Dozy: an yadin in Sura IX.29, where we find the order to fight the Christians and Jews hattd yu`tu-l jizyata an yadin. This expression is explained by the commentators, as we can see in Baydawi, in so many discordant ways, that one would be tempted to say that they would be better off in confessing that they did not understand it."4
E. W. Lane: "`an yadin as occurring in the Koran IX.29, He gave it in acknowledgement of the superiority of the receiver; that the power (yad) of the latter was superior to that of the giver: or, because of favour received; or, from subjection and abasement: (M:)5 or from compulsion: (Abu `Ubayd, T.)6 or, obediently: or, in ready money. (TA)7" 8
NOTES
1. al-Baydawi, Anwar al-tanzil wa-asrar at ta'wil, ed. H. O. Fleischer, 2 vols. (Leiden, 1846-1848). No one seems certain of the date of his death; four dates have been proposed: 1286, 1292, 1293, and 1316.
2. Ibn Kathir (died 1373 c.E.): Tafsir al-Qur'an al-`azim (Beirut, 1385/1966).
3. R. Bell, A Commentary on the Qur'an (Manchester, 1991), vol.1, p. 299.
4. R. Dozy, Supplement aux DictionnairesArabes (1881, 1st ed.), Beyrouth, 1981), vol. 2, p. 857.
5. Ibn Sida, al-Muhkam. Ibn Sida was an Andulasian philologist and lexicographer; compiled two dictionaries al-Mukhassas and al-Muhkam. Died 458/1066.
6. al-Azhari, Arab lexicographer, born and died in Harat 284/895: 370/980. Compiled dictionary Tahdhib al-Lugha.
7. Ibn Murtada, Tdj al-'Arus. Murtada died in 1205 A.H.
8. E. W. Lane An Arabic-English Lexicon (Beirut [1863-1893], 1968), vol. 8, p. 3063.