Final answer:
The Cizye (jizya) is a tax historically imposed on non-Muslims under Islamic law, allowing them to practice their religion with certain restrictions and contributing to the Islamic state's revenue.
Step-by-step explanation:
The meaning of Cizye (jizya) is a tax imposed on non-Muslims under Islamic law. The jizya was historically levied on dhimmis, or non-Muslim subjects under Muslim rule, in exchange for the protection of their religious freedom, and in acknowledgement of the sovereignty of Muslim leadership. These non-Muslims, referred to as ahl al-kitab or People of the Book, such as Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians, were permitted to practice their religions but faced certain restrictions in public life, and the jizya was a key component of the fiscal policy of the Islamic states towards its non-Muslim subjects.
In regions like southeastern Europe and southwest Asia, as well as India, where diverse religious communities existed, the imposition of the jizya allowed these communities to maintain their religious practices while contributing to the Islamic state. It was part of a broader legal and social system that also included the dhimmi and millet system, aimed at managing the affairs of religious minorities under Islamic rule.