A delegation of the tribe of `Abdul Qais came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We are from the tribe of Rabi`a, and the infidels of the tribe of Mudar stands between us and you; so we cannot come to you except during the Sacred Months. Please order us to do something (religious deeds) which we may carry out and also invite to it our people whom we have left behind." The Prophet said, "I order you to do four things and forbid you four others: (I order you) to have faith in Allah, and confess that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, (and the Prophet (ﷺ) gestured with his hand like this (i.e. one knot) and to offer prayers perfectly and to pay the Zakat, and to pay onefifth of the booty in Allah's Cause. And I forbid you to use Dubba', Hantam, Naqir and Muzaffat (all these are the names of utensils used for preparing alcoholic drinks)."
Contextual Background
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 1398 recounts the arrival of the `Abdul Qais delegation, who traveled from eastern Arabia through hostile territory during the Sacred Months when warfare was prohibited, demonstrating their sincere desire for Islamic guidance.
Four Essential Commands
The Prophet (ﷺ) established the foundational pillars of Islam: Tawhid (monotheism), Salah (prayer), Zakat (obligatory charity), and Khums (one-fifth of booty). These represent the core obligations connecting the believer to Allah and community.
The hand gesture mentioned indicates the singular nature of Allah's divinity - just as a single knot cannot be divided, Allah's oneness cannot be compromised.
Zakat: The Social Obligation
Zakat appears as the third pillar, following faith and prayer, indicating its elevated status in Islam. It purifies wealth and establishes social justice by redistributing resources to the needy.
The inclusion of Zakat in these fundamental instructions to new Muslims demonstrates its compulsory nature from the earliest days of Islamic propagation.
Prohibited Vessels
The prohibition of specific containers used for fermenting alcohol shows the comprehensive nature of Islamic legislation, addressing both spiritual and practical aspects of life.
By forbidding the means to intoxication, the Prophet (ﷺ) protected the community from the spiritual and social harms of alcohol while establishing the principle of blocking pathways to evil.