Interpretive reading of the Jizyah of the People of the Book in verse 29 of Tawbah

The popular view among the jurists about confronting the People of the Book is that the People of the Book should pay Jizyah to the Muslims if they do not convert to Islam, otherwise the Muslims have to fight them. One of the most important documents on this issue is verse 29 of chapter Tawbah. This article examines the interpretation of this verse in terms of its subject matter and its ruling. The study shows that according to other verses of the Quran which are related to the People of the Book, the characteristics of the People of the Book mentioned in the verse of Jizyah do not include all the People of the Book. Moreover, considering the verses that suggest tolerance and forgiving the people of the book, the ruling on fighting the People of the Book does not apply to all circumstances. So, Jizyah is believed to be about a particular group of the People of the Book and under certain conditions, neither all of them nor under any circumstances.