Al-talji’ah

Definition of "Al-talji’ah"

Lit: Refuge, shelter. Tech: Common in Iraq of ’Umayyads (AD 661–750) and ‘Abbasids (AD 750–945), it refers to circumstances of a weak person committing his land to the protection of a strong citizen against foreign troops, bandits or government tax-collectors. This was also known as himayah or khafarah. The feudal lord would collect tax from the person seeking talji‘ah who acted as a muzar‘ah. This tax often covered government dues plus the feudal lord’s share for providing the protection. Such ’ilja’ lands were often annexed by the government and distributed among the courtiers. The government always felt threatened by the power of the feudal lords but had to live with this evil.