Impacts of the Notion of Requirements of Time and Space on Decrees Related to Protected People With Special Reference to Imam Khomeini's Viewpoints

The present paper is an attempt to study the viewpoint of Islam towards the Protected People (Ahl Zima). In the light of the notion of time and space, attempts have been made to restudy the decrees of protected people based on Shia jurisprudence. In accordance with the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the term Protected People refers to non-Muslims who follow the Divine Books (Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians), who are protected by the Islamic Government on the basis of the Tribute Agreement. Although they enjoy certain citizen rights in accordance to traditional reading of Islamic teachings, they used to face some limitations because of rejection of domination of infidels over Muslims, which included payment of tribute, prohibition of construction of new religious sites, prohibition of advocacy of Muslims, limitation in some transactions and differences in amount of blood money (compensation). However, relying on the notion of time and space, Imam Khomeini believed that the said decrees are revisable. Since inference of decrees are based on their exigencies and detriments, taking into account the regional and international exigencies can be a criterion for inference of many decrees at this stage of time. Hence, by taking into account the requirements of time and space as well as peaceful coexistence of the Muslims with the People of the Book, the decrees on the People of the Book are revisable. In fact, the subjects related to the decrees pertaining to the Protected People have undergone change and hence the said decrees are changeable.