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There is disagreement concerning Allah’s words, Mighty and Majestic:
“They ask you what they should spend. Say, ‘What you can spare.’” [al-Baqarah: 219]
Some say that “what you can spare” in this verse means zakat; others say it means whatever the giver willingly gives; and others say it means whatever remains after providing for one’s dependants. Those who understand it to mean zakat or whatever the giver willingly gives regard the verse as remaining in force, not abrogated.
Among those who understand it to mean whatever remains after providing for one’s dependants, some say that giving this was obligatory in the early days of Islam: when someone harvested his crops, he would set aside provisions for himself and his dependants, together with seed for the following year, and give the remainder in charity. This was then abrogated by the obligation of zakat. Others say that the verse remains in force and has not been abrogated, but expresses a recommendation rather than an obligation, like His saying, Most High:
“They ask you what they should spend. Say, ‘Whatever good you spend should be for parents, close relatives, orphans, the needy, and the traveller. Whatever good you do, Allah surely knows it.’” [al-Baqarah: 215]
Still others say that the verse remains in force and imposes an obligation. A group of those devoted to asceticism and scrupulous piety adopted this view, holding anything beyond what suffices for one’s needs to be forbidden. Abū Dharr—may Allah Most High be pleased with him—held a similar view. Many reports have been transmitted from him, some expressed in severe terms, indicating that he considered all accumulated wealth exceeding what was needed for food and basic subsistence to be a hoard. He used to say: “Those who have the most will be the greatest losers on the Day of Resurrection. Woe to those who own hundreds!” Many reports concerning this have also been transmitted from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. However, the majority of scholars understood them as referring to zakat, contrary to the interpretation adopted by Abū Dharr—may Allah Most High be pleased with him. Success comes only through Allah.
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The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, clarified the Quran’s unelaborated passages concerning zakat and other matters, and restricted its general wording wherever a restricted meaning was intended, through both his words and his actions. This was as Allah Most High commanded him when He said in His Book:
“We have sent down to you the Reminder so that you may make clear to people what has been sent down to them.” [al-Nahl: 44]
The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, thus explained which kinds of wealth zakat is collected from, from whom it is collected, how much is collected, and when it is collected. He said: “A Muslim is under no obligation