declares that those who practise them are truthful in what they say and are the pious. Truthfulness is obligatory, as is faith. The obligation of dues besides zakah is also indicated by His words:

“So recite whatever is easy of it, establish prayer, give zakah, and lend Allah a good loan. Whatever good you send ahead for yourselves, you will find it with Allah, better and greater in reward.”

And His words to the Children of Israel:

“If you establish prayer, give zakah, believe in My messengers and support them, and lend Allah a good loan.”

And His words:

“You will never attain righteousness until you spend from what you love.”

And His words:

“Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and be good to parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, the neighbour who is related to you, the neighbour who is unrelated, the companion at your side, the traveller, and those whom your right hands possess.”

And His words:

“Give relatives their due, and the needy and the traveller,”

in the surahs Subhān and al-Rūm.

Giving relatives their due means maintaining ties of kinship; giving the needy their due means feeding the hungry; and giving the traveller his due means offering hospitality to guests. Spending on freeing slaves includes securing the release of captives, while giving to orphans is a form of feeding the poor. In al-Bukhārī, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Visit the sick, feed the hungry, and free the captive.”

And in the hadith upon which Ahmad based his ruling:

“If the beggar were truthful, no one who turned him away would prosper.”

Furthermore, the messengers—such as Noah, Hūd, Sālih, and Shuayb—began their call, as related in Surah Hūd, with:

“Worship Allah; you have no deity worthy of worship except Him.”

And in al-Shuarā: