37/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3971 — Holding Salah and Zakah Together
The Prohibition of Bloodshed
Abu Bakr's Decision to Keep Salah and Zakah Together
Sunan an-Nasai : 3971
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3971
أَخْبَرَنَا زِيَادُ بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ فَإِذَا قَالُوهَا فَقَدْ عَصَمُوا مِنِّي دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلاَّ بِحَقِّهَا وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ " . فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ الرِّدَّةُ قَالَ عُمَرُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ أَتُقَاتِلُهُمْ وَقَدْ سَمِعْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ كَذَا وَكَذَا . فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ الصَّلاَةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ . وَلأُقَاتِلَنَّ مَنْ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا . فَقَاتَلْنَا مَعَهُ فَرَأَيْنَا ذَلِكَ رُشْدًا . قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ سُفْيَانُ فِي الزُّهْرِيِّ لَيْسَ بِالْقَوِيِّ وَهُوَ سُفْيَانُ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'I have been commanded to fight the people until they say La ilaha illallah. If they say it then their blood and their wealth are safe from me, except for a right that is due, and their reckoning will be with Allah.' When the people apostatized, 'Umar said to Abu Bakr: 'Will you fight them when you heard the Messenger of Allah [SAW] say such and such?' He said: 'By Allah, I do not separate Salah and Zakah, and I will fight whoever separates them.' So we fought alongside him, and we realized that that was the right thing.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3971In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 6English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 3976
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3971
This hadith begins with the Prophet's statement that people who say "La ilaha illallah" have protection for blood and wealth except for a right that is due, while their reckoning is with Allah. When apostasy occurred, Umar asked Abu Bakr how he could fight people after hearing those words. Abu Bakr replied that he did not separate Salah from Zakah and would fight those who separated the two. The companions then fought alongside him and came to see that decision as right. The distinctive point in this version is the community's later recognition. It shows an initial question, Abu Bakr's clear answer, and a change in judgment after action and reflection. The text does not give further detail about the campaign, so the explanation stays with that stated sequence.
What we learn from this hadith
- The hadith keeps Salah and Zakah joined as duties.
- Questions may be raised when a prophetic statement seems difficult to apply.
- The companions later recognized Abu Bakr's decision as right.
