37/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3973 — Abu Bakr Against Withholding Zakah
The Prohibition of Bloodshed
Abu Bakr, Zakah, and the Right Due on Wealth
Sunan an-Nasai : 3973
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3973
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ، عَنْ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ لَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بَعْدَهُ 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 فَقَدْ عَصَمَ مِنِّي مَالَهُ وَنَفْسَهُ إِلاَّ بِحَقِّهِ وَحِسَابُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ " . قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لأُقَاتِلَنَّ مَنْ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَ الصَّلاَةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ فَإِنَّ الزَّكَاةَ حَقُّ الْمَالِ فَوَاللَّهِ لَوْ مَنَعُونِي عَنَاقًا كَانُوا يُؤَدُّونَهَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَقَاتَلْتُهُمْ عَلَى مَنْعِهَا . قَالَ عُمَرُ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا هُوَ إِلاَّ أَنْ 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 Khalifah) after him, and the 'Arabs reverted to Kufr, 'Umar said: 'O 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, and 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, the Mighty and Sublime?'Abu Bakr said: '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 young goat that they used to give to the Messenger of Allah [SAW], I will fight them for withholding it.' 'Umar said: 'By Allah, as soon as I saw that Allah has expanded the chest of Abu Bakr to fighting, I knew that it was the truth.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3973In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 8English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 3978
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3973
This report returns to the discussion between Umar and Abu Bakr after the Prophet's death and the apostasy of some Arabs. Umar quoted the statement about protection for the person who says "La ilaha illallah," except for a right that is due. Abu Bakr answered that he would fight anyone who separated Salah and Zakah, because Zakah is the right of wealth. He swore that even a young goat formerly given to the Messenger of Allah could not be withheld without response. Umar then said that he recognized Abu Bakr's view as the truth. The main lesson is not a general promise about every situation. It is the specific connection made in the text between the due right, Zakah, and Abu Bakr's refusal to let the duty be detached from prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- Zakah is named as a right due from wealth.
- Abu Bakr treated Salah and Zakah as connected obligations.
- Umar accepted the judgment after seeing Abu Bakr's certainty.
