Know that whenever a disagreement arises within the ummah and it is driven by a righteous intention together with diligent effort to ascertain the truth, no blame or accusation of misguidance may be levelled, for the person is a mujtahid. The Prophet ﷺ said, “When a judge rules and strives and then gets it right, he will have two rewards; and when he rules and strives and then makes a mistake, he will have one reward.” Therefore, no one has the right to disparage his brother when the latter bases his opinion on the evidence available to him. The one who deserves censure is only he who stubbornly resists and persists after the proof has been established against him.

On the strength of this clarification we learn that the gravest caution is required against taking the prayer lightly. Whoever witnesses someone being negligent about it must advise him with resolve and earnestness, hoping that Allah will guide the person through his counsel and that he will thereby obtain abundant good.

As for the phrase “establishing the zakah,” the verb itā’ means “giving,” whereas ityān means “coming.” The verb atā can signify “came” and it can also mean “gave.” Thus itā’ al-zakah is the act of giving zakah to those whom Allah, exalted is He, has designated to receive it. The word zakah itself comes from zakā, meaning purification and growth: the giver purifies himself from miserliness and increases his wealth through zakah, as Allah the Most High says, “Take from their wealth a charity …”