The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (654 page)

Dhimma
.

Official protected status granted by the Muslim ruling power to the non-Muslims, known as Ahl al-Dhimma, an individual being termed a Dhimm
. These were in origin generally of the
Ahl al-Kit
b
, People of the Book (scripture), i.e. Jews and Christians, a status extended to
Zoroastrians
(Maj
s) and others as time went on until it has come to refer to non-Muslims living in a Muslim state. Unlike pagans (
mushrik
n
), Dhimm
s are allowed to retain their religion and generally to practise it unhindered, though subject to certain conditions and to
jizya
(poll tax).
This practice was continued and elaborated by the Ottoman ‘millet’ system.

 
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(17th cent. CE).
A claimant to being the Sikh Gur
. His followers were called Dh
rmal
s.

 
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