الضرائب والصناعات في العصر الإسلامي

General Review of Unit Two

• Question 1: Which tax is levied on agricultural land?

  • The correct answer is خراج (kharaj).

• Question 2: After the condition of agriculture deteriorated in open areas, Arabs focused heavily on...?

  • The correct answer is agriculture.

• Question 3: The Islamic state lessened the burden on farmers with a tax that wasn't determined by the suffering experienced under the Ptolemaic and Roman eras.

  • The correct answer is خراج (kharaj).

• Question 4: Competition between Islamic countries flourished during Islamic rule in which area of production?

  • The correct answer is commercial.

• Question 5: After migration to the city, the Prophet (peace be upon him) worked on reviving agricultural lands through improved irrigation systems, taking advantage of water in valleys like Wadi...

  • The correct answer is Wadi Batḥān.

• Question 6: One of the efforts of Muslims to improve irrigation projects included the construction of bridges and dams on rivers. An example of this is the dam of Mu'awiyah on the Wadi... in Medina.

  • The correct answer is Wadi al-Khanq.

• Question 7: Ahmad ibn Tulun constructed water channels in Egypt's subdivisions and built instruments such as the Nile gauge on the island of...?

  • The correct answer is al-Rūḍah.

• Question 8: Some of the most prominent companions who worked in the industry were...?

  • The answer is not provided in the text.

• Question 9: These are organizations and gatherings associated with individuals of the same profession.

  • The correct answer is guilds (ṭawāʾif).

• Question 10: What are one of the most important wood industries of the Islamic age?

  • The correct answer is shipbuilding industry.

• Question 11: Industries that spread throughout the Islamic world and excelled in the craftsmanship of lanterns and candlesticks were...?

  • The correct answer is metalworking.

• Question 12: This refers to the right of farmers to utilize land, typically ranging from 3 to 5 feddans.

  • The correct answer is small-scale ownership (milkiyyah saghira).

• Question 13: Muhammad Ali introduced new crops like... to raise silkworms.

  • The correct answer is mulberry trees (ashjar al-tūt).

• Question 14: We know about the lands of 'Ab'idiyyah, and Jafālik, which refers to...

  • The correct answer is large-scale ownership (milkiyyah kabīrah).

• Question 15: Muhammad Ali's goal with the monopoly system was to...?

  • The correct answer is increase national income, control the market, and earn profit, becoming a competitor in global markets.

• Question 16: Which type of ownership is composed of two types of land: intermediate and permissible?

  • The correct answer is middle-sized ownership (milkiyyah wusṭā).

• Question 17: Muhammad Ali sought to improve agriculture through...

  • The correct answer is all of the listed options (irrigation, agricultural education, etc.).

• Question 18: Muhammad Ali had a canal dug... to enhance agriculture.

  • The correct answer is al-Mahmudiya.

• Question 19: Muhammad Ali built bridges in... to facilitate permanent irrigation in the Delta region.

  • The correct answer is al-Khayriyyah.

Further Definitions and Information

• Kharaj: A tax on agricultural land conquered or acquired peacefully by Muslims. The value is based on the quality of the land. It was instituted by Caliph Omar ibn Khattab and paid annually after harvest by non-Muslims. It had two types: land captured through war (where owners could keep the land in exchange for payment, but not inherit it) and land taken through peace (where ownership was retained and inheritable).

• Ushr Land: Land whose owners pay a tithe (one-tenth) of their produce, as zakat (a form of obligatory charity). Three types exist: land where owners converted to Islam before conquest; land whose owners were unknown at the time of Muslim conquest ; and uncultivated land improved by Muslims.

• Guilds (ṭawāʾif): Organizations or associations of individuals sharing the same trade, including factors like the fowāṭiyya, khaymīya, and blacksmiths. Each guild has a leader, responsible for managing the members' interests.

• Monopoly system (al-iḥtikār): The state, represented by Muhammad Ali, controlled the types of crops and products to be cultivated and manufactured, along with their prices. This aimed to establish competition with other countries in global markets. Specific actions included providing raw materials at government-set prices, acquiring products at government-set prices, raising sale prices for raw materials and lowering prices for purchased finished goods to generate profits.

• Factors in Agricultural Prosperity: Rich soil, diverse climate, and abundant water supply.

• Islamic Agricultural Developments: Introduction of new crops, irrigation techniques, and agricultural practices that enhanced production.

• Agricultural Practices of the Islamic Age: Development of soil analysis, fertilization strategies, crop rotation schedules, and efficient water utilization to improve the general quality of agriculture.

• Factors Contributing to the Flourishing of Industry: Abundant raw materials availability, specialized guilds, royal support and regulation of industry life, and stability of industry professionals and societies.

• Significant Islamic Era Industries: Textiles, paper, glass, metals, and woodworking in addition to leather works and carpet-making.

• Notable Islamic Era Scientists and Craftsmen: Khabab ibn al-Arṭ (a blacksmith) and `Uthmān ibn Ṭalḥah (a tailor).

• Achievements of Muhammad Ali in Agricultural Policy Reform: Canceling the lease system, confiscating leasers' land, recording it in the state's name, addressing waqf (religious endowments) issues and land ownership disputes.

• Muhammad Ali's Agricultural Development Policies: Engaging European agricultural experts, creating agricultural schools, implementing new irrigation methods like al-Mahmudiya and al-Khayriyyah canals, introducing new crops and livestock, and imposing the monopoly system to influence and encourage agricultural production goals.