37/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3970 — Why Abu Bakr Joined Salah and Zakah
The Prohibition of Bloodshed
Why Salah and Zakah Cannot Be Separated in This Hadith
Sunan an-Nasai : 3970
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3970
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ لَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَاسْتُخْلِفَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَكَفَرَ مَنْ كَفَرَ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ قَالَ عُمَرُ لأَبِي 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 عِقَالاً كَانُوا يُؤَدُّونَهُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَقَاتَلْتُهُمْ عَلَى مَنْعِهِ قَالَ عُمَرُ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا هُوَ إِلاَّ أَنِّي رَأَيْتُ اللَّهَ شَرَحَ صَدْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ لِلْقِتَالِ فَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
When the Messenger of Allah [SAW] died and Abu Bakr became the Khalifah after him, and some of the 'Arabs reverted to Kufr, 'Umar said to Abu Bakr: 'How can you fight the people when the Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: I have been commanded to fight the people until they say La ilaha illallah (there is none worthy of worship but Allah). Whoever says La ilaha illallah, his wealth and his life are safe from me except for a right that is due, and his reckoning will be with Allah.?'Abu Bakr said: 'By Allah, I will fight whoever separates Salah and Zakah, for Zakah is the compulsory right to be taken from wealth. By Allah, if they withhold from me a rope that they used to give to the Messenger of Allah [SAW], I will fight them for withholding it.' 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: 'By Allah, as soon as I realized that Allah has expanded the chest of Abu Bakr for fighting, I knew that it was the truth.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3970In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 5English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 3975
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3970
This narration describes the debate between Umar and Abu Bakr after some Arabs reverted to disbelief. Umar quoted the Prophet's statement that whoever says "La ilaha illallah" has protection for life and wealth except where a right is due, with the final reckoning left to Allah. Abu Bakr answered that he would fight anyone who separated Salah from Zakah, because Zakah is a compulsory right taken from wealth. He added that even withholding a rope previously given to the Messenger of Allah would be treated as withholding that duty. Umar then said he recognized Abu Bakr's position as true. The hadith therefore links the phrase "except for a right that is due" with the duty of Zakah and shows Salah and Zakah being treated together.
What we learn from this hadith
- Zakah is described as a compulsory right connected to wealth.
- Abu Bakr rejected separating the duty of Salah from Zakah.
- Umar revised his view after understanding Abu Bakr's reasoning.
