Al-Siyasa al-Shar'iyya - Ibn Taimiya - (الكتاب/173)

and zakat, together with patience, serves to set right the condition of both ruler and subjects, provided that one understands all that falls within these comprehensive terms. The term prayer, for example, encompasses (1) the remembrance of Allah Most High, supplication to Him, recitation of His Book, devoting worship sincerely to Him, and reliance upon Him. The term (2) zakat encompasses doing good to people through wealth and other forms of benefit, such as supporting the oppressed, relieving (3) those in distress, and meeting the needs of the needy. It is reported in the two Sahih collections (4) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Every good deed is charity.”

This includes every form of kindness, even a cheerful countenance and a kind word. In the two Sahih collections (5), Adi ibn Hātim reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “There is none among you but that his Lord will speak to him, with neither veil nor interpreter between them. He will look to his right and see nothing but what he has sent ahead; he will look to his left [أ/ق 55] and see nothing but what he has sent ahead; and he will look straight ahead and be confronted by the Fire. Whoever among you can shield himself from the Fire, even with half a date, should do so; and if he cannot (6), then with a kind word.”

In the Sunan collections, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Never belittle any good deed, even if it be only to meet your brother

(1) The remaining manuscripts read: “is included.” (2) This wording is from the base manuscript. (3) (ز، ل): “and assisting.” (4) Al-Bukhārī (6021), from Jābir ibn Abd Allāh, and Muslim (1005), from Hudhayfah—may Allah be pleased with them both. In (ي), it reads: “the Sahīh.” (5) Al-Bukhārī (1413) and Muslim (1016). (6) The remaining manuscripts read: “finds.”

والزكاة والصبر يُصْلِح حالَ الراعي والرعية، إذا عرف الإنسانُ ما دخل (١) في هذه الأسماء الجامعة، مثلما يدخل في اسم (٢) الصلاة؛ من ذكر الله تعالى، ودعائه، وتلاوة كتابه، وإخلاص الدين له، والتوكل عليه. وفي الزكاة؛ الإحسان إلى الخلق بالمال والنفع، من نصر المظلوم، وإغاثة (٣) الملهوف، وقضاء حاجة المحتاج. ففي «الصحيحين» (٤) عن النبي ﷺ أنه قال: «كلُّ معروفٍ صدقة». ويدخل فيه كل إحسان ولو ببسط الوجه والكلمة الطيبة، ففي «الصحيحين» (٥) عن عدي بن حاتم قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ: «ما منكم من أحدٍ إلا سيكلمه ربُّه ليس بينه وبينَه حاجب ولا ترجمان، فينظر أيمنَ منه فلا يرى إلا شيئًا قدَّمَه، وينظر أشأم [أ/ق ٥٥] منه فلا يرى إلا شيئًا قدَّمَه، وينظر أمامه فتستقبله النار، فمن استطاع منكم أن يتقي النار ولو بشقِّ تمرة فليفعل، فإن لم يستطع (٦) فبكلمة طيبة». وفي «السنن» قال ﷺ: «لا تحقرنَّ من المعروف شيئًا، ولو أن تلقى أخاك

(١) بقية النسخ: «يدخل». (٢) من الأصل. (٣) (ز، ل): «وإعانة». (٤) البخاري (٦٠٢١) من حديث جابر بن عبد الله، ومسلم (١٠٠٥) من حديث حذيفة ﵄. ووقع في (ي): «الصحيح». (٥) البخاري (١٤١٣)، ومسلم (١٠١٦). (٦) بقية النسخ: «يجد».