The Prophet (ﷺ) sent Mu`adh to Yemen and said, "Invite the people to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I am Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), and if they obey you to do so, then teach them that Allah has enjoined on them five prayers in every day and night (in twenty-four hours), and if they obey you to do so, then teach them that Allah has made it obligatory for them to pay the Zakat from their property and it is to be taken from the wealthy among them and given to the poor."
Hadith Context & Significance
This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari 1395 establishes the fundamental methodology of Islamic propagation. The Prophet's instructions to Mu'adh ibn Jabal demonstrate the prioritized sequence of Islamic teachings: beginning with Tawhid (monotheism), progressing to prayer, then introducing Zakat as the third pillar.
This systematic approach reflects divine wisdom, as faith must precede action, and spiritual devotion (prayer) prepares the soul for material sacrifice (Zakat).
Theological Foundations of Zakat
Zakat is not merely charity but an act of worship ('ibadah) that purifies wealth and soul. The phrase "obligatory charity tax" indicates its compulsory nature upon every Muslim meeting the nisab threshold.
By linking Zakat directly to the testimony of faith, the Prophet established it as an essential component of Islamic belief, not an optional benevolence.
Social & Economic Wisdom
"Taken from the wealthy and given to the poor" embodies Islam's comprehensive social justice system. Zakat functions as wealth redistribution that maintains economic balance and prevents wealth concentration.
This divinely ordained system eliminates class resentment, fosters mutual responsibility, and ensures society's basic needs are met through institutionalized compassion.
Legal Dimensions
Classical scholars derive from this hadith that Zakat is fard (obligatory) upon every sane, adult Muslim possessing wealth above nisab for one lunar year.
The authorization to "take" from the wealthy indicates that Islamic authorities may enforce Zakat collection when necessary, though voluntary compliance remains the ideal.
Spiritual Purification
The Arabic root "Z-K-W" means purification and growth. Zakat purifies the giver from greed and attachment to worldly wealth while purifying the recipient from envy and resentment.
This spiritual dimension transforms economic transaction into divine worship, connecting the Muslim's material life with spiritual development.