zakat in many passages, and He has threatened those who withhold it with a grievous punishment. Among these passages is His statement: “And let not those who withhold what Allah has granted them of His bounty think that it is good for them; rather, it is bad for them. On the Day of Resurrection that with which they were miserly will be hung around their necks” (Āl ʿImrān 3:180).
Al-Bukhārī relates that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever is given wealth by Allah and does not pay its zakat, it will appear to him on the Day of Resurrection as a bald-headed, venomous snake that coils round his neck and says, ‘I am your wealth, I am your treasure.’”
Hadith 1
ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbbās ﵄ reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Muʿādh ibn Jabal when he dispatched him to Yemen:
“You are going to a people from the People of the Book. When you arrive, call them to bear witness that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
If they accept that, then inform them that Allah has made obligatory for them five prayers in every day and night.
If they accept that, then inform them that Allah has prescribed a charity (zakah) to be taken from their rich and returned to their poor.
If they accept that, then beware of taking the best of their property, and fear the supplication of the oppressed, for between it and Allah there is no veil.”
General Meaning
The Prophet ﷺ sent Muʿādh ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, to Yemen as a caller to the faith, a teacher, and a judge. He therefore outlined for him the method of daʿwah and sound, wise conduct.
First, he informed him about the nature of the people he would meet, for every group needs an address suited to its circumstances. He told him they were People of the Book, possessing knowledge and arguments with which they debate, so that Muʿādh could make ready for them.
Next he commanded him to invite them to the most important matters first, then to what comes next in importance. The most critical of all is the two testimonies of faith, for they are the foundation upon which the entire structure rests; no act of worship is valid without heartfelt and verbal affirmation of them.
Once they had embraced the testimonies, he was to summon them to the greatest act of worship after faith itself—the five obligatory prayers.
After they had committed to the prayers, he was to clarify to them the obligation of zakat, the twin of prayer: a financial act of worship following the bodily act of worship. Its purpose is mutual assistance among Muslims; hence it is taken from the wealthy and returned to the poor.
Thereafter he laid out their right to justice and fairness once they had undertaken to pay zakat: that he must not take the choicest, most precious portion of their wealth, but rather something of average quality, for zakat is founded upon solidarity and consideration for all.