Al-’awraj

Definition of "Al-’awraj"

Relating to the ‘Abbasid (AD 750–945) fiscal administration, it was an official register used in the revenue department. It contained information about each individual tax payer regarding the tax assessed, collected and the balance payable. The register was divided in geographical zones so that the exact amount due from each tax agent ( jahbadh) was known. As tax instalments came in, the amounts were recorded in al-’awaraj and then transferred each day from a day-book (the ruznamaj).