المعنى الاصطلاحي :

Protection of man's life, property and honor.

الشرح المختصر :

"‘Ismah" (protection) is a sort of protection granted by the Shariah whereby man's life, property, and honor cannot be violated except for a just cause, such as retribution for murder. It is of two types: 1. "‘Ismah" of the Muslim, which is established by pronouncing the two testimonies of faith. 2. "‘Ismah" of a dhimmi non-Muslim, who lives under protection of the Muslim state, which is established by a protection covenant that the Muslims grant him. It is the duty of the Muslim ruler to protect these non-Muslims from any harm to their lives, properties, or honor. Some Muslim jurists classified "‘ismah" into two types: 1. "‘Ismah muqawwimah": it is the protection whereby a value is established for a person's life, property, and honor. If someone violates them, he shall be subject to retaliation, pay blood money, or guarantee to make amends, exactly as in killing a Muslim person. 2. "‘Ismah mu’ath'thimah: it is the protection whereby the person who violates it will be sinful without being subject to retribution, blood money or guarantee of any type, as in killing children and women of the combatant disbelievers.

التعريف اللغوي المختصر :

"‘Ismah": prevention and withholding. "i‘tisām": holding something. Other meanings: preservation, protection, anything that one clings to.