Iltizam

In today's world, Iltizam has become a topic of great relevance and interest to a wide spectrum of society. On both a personal and professional level, Iltizam has made a significant impact on our lives. In order to better understand this phenomenon and offer a broad and detailed vision, in this article we will explore different aspects related to Iltizam. From its origins to its influence on the present, including its future implications, we will delve into an exhaustive analysis that seeks to shed light on this very important topic. By exploring relevant studies, testimonials, and data, we hope to provide a comprehensive and enriching view of Iltizam that our readers may find useful and enlightening.

An iltizam (Arabic: التزام, romanizediltizām) was a form of tax farm that appeared in the 15th century in the Ottoman Empire. The system began under Mehmed the Conqueror and was abolished during the Tanzimat reforms in 1856.

Iltizams were sold off by the government to wealthy notables, who would then reap up to five times the amount they had paid by taxing the peasants and extracting agricultural production. It was a system that was very profitable and was of great benefit to the Egyptian aristocracy under the Mamluks, and helped create a large and powerful elite. In Egypt, it was abolished by Muhammad Ali as part of his centralization efforts in the early nineteenth century. After confiscating the iltizam lands of the ulema, Muhammad Ali imposed a tax on their significant (and previously tax-exempt) waqf revenues.

The holder of an iltizam was a mültezim (Ottoman Turkish: ملتزم)

An iltizam was typically an annual agreement. The malikâne (Ottoman Turkish: مالكانه), developed as a replacement for iltizam, was for life.[1]

References

  1. ^ An Introduction to Religious Foundations in the Ottoman Empire. Barnes. 1987. ISBN 9789004086524.

Further reading

  • Abd Al-Rahim / Y. Nagata: The Iltizam System in Egypt and Turkey - A Comparative Study. JaAAS, 14 (1977), 169-194.