The Difference Between a Dhimmi and a Musta'min

Question:
All right, he says: I want you to clarify for me who the dhimmi is in the pure Shari'ah, and who the musta'min is?

Answer:
It is easy. The dhimmi is the one who pays the jizyah and is under the protection of the Muslims under the rule of Islam; that is the dhimmi. The musta'min is the one with whom we have a treaty, who has not paid the jizyah, but there is a treaty of safe conduct between us and him. There is no war between us and him; the state of war is suspended, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made a treaty with the polytheists at al-Hudaybiyyah to suspend the war, so that the war lays down its burdens between the Muslims and the polytheists for a specified period. That is the treaty. And the term "treaty" may also be applied to the dhimmi; the dhimmi is called a musta'min. But if you ask about the difference between the dhimmi and the musta'min, we say: the dhimmi is the one who pays the jizyah, and the musta'min is the one with whom we have a treaty to cease war, but who does not pay the jizyah.