88/3. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6925 — Prayer and Zakat Together
Killing those who refuse to fulfil the duties enjoined by Allah, and considering them as apostates
Hadith About Prayer, Zakat, and Abu Bakr’s Decision
Sahih Bukhari : 6925
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6925
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ لَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَاسْتُخْلِفَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَكَفَرَ مَنْ كَفَرَ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ، قَالَ عُمَرُ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ، كَيْفَ تُقَاتِلُ النَّاسَ، وَقَدْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ. فَمَنْ قَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ. عَصَمَ مِنِّي مَالَهُ وَنَفْسَهُ، إِلاَّ بِحَقِّهِ، وَحِسَابُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ ". قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَاللَّهِ لأُقَاتِلَنَّ مَنْ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَ الصَّلاَةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ، فَإِنَّ الزَّكَاةَ حَقُّ الْمَالِ، وَاللَّهِ لَوْ مَنَعُونِي عَنَاقًا كَانُوا يُؤَدُّونَهَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَقَاتَلْتُهُمْ عَلَى مَنْعِهَا. قَالَ عُمَرُ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا هُوَ إِلاَّ أَنْ رَأَيْتُ أَنْ قَدْ شَرَحَ اللَّهُ صَدْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ لِلْقِتَالِ فَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
When the Prophet (ﷺ) died and Abu Bakr became his successor and some of the Arabs reverted to disbelief, `Umar said, "O Abu Bakr! How can you fight these people although Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, 'and whoever said, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah', Allah will save his property and his life from me, unless (he does something for which he receives legal punishment) justly, and his account will be with Allah?' "Abu Bakr said, "By Allah! I will fight whoever differentiates between prayers and Zakat as Zakat is the right to be taken from property (according to Allah's Orders). By Allah! If they refused to pay me even a kid they used to pay to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), I would fight with them for withholding it." `Umar said, "By Allah: It was nothing, but I noticed that Allah opened Abu Bakr's chest towards the decision to fight, therefore I realized that his decision was right."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6924, 6925In-book reference : Book 88, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 84, Hadith 59
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6925
This Hadith about prayer and Zakat repeats the report of Abu Bakr’s decision after the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) passed away. Umar asked how Abu Bakr could fight people while the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had spoken about protection for those who say there is no god but Allah, unless there is a rightful reason. Abu Bakr answered that he would fight whoever separated prayer from Zakat, because Zakat is the right of wealth. He made clear that even withholding a small animal previously given to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would not be accepted. Umar then realized that Abu Bakr’s decision was right. The Hadith focuses on Zakat as an obligation tied to public religious order.
What we learn from this hadith
- Prayer and Zakat are treated together in Abu Bakr’s argument.
- Zakat is described as the right due from wealth.
- Withholding even a small due was treated seriously.
- Umar accepted Abu Bakr’s decision after seeing its correctness.
