The non-Muslims living under the protection of the Muslim state.
According to Qur'anic verse 9:24, "Fight those who do not believe ... until they pay the poll tax," non-Muslim peoples conquered by the Muslim state were required to pay a poll tax, the jizya; in return, they were granted protection and the freedom to practice their religion. Initially, this provision was provided only for Jews and Christians, but as the Muslim state expanded out of Arabia, protection was granted to other religious minorities, such as Zoroastrians. The status of the dhimmis varied in time and place. Restrictions on dress, mode of travel, and form of public worship were occasionally placed upon them, yet they often served as administrative secretaries to Muslim governments. In general more tolerance was extended to the Jews than to the Christians, particularly after the Crusades, due to the fear of the latter's association with Christian Europe.