Obligatory Charity Tax (Zakat) - Sahih al-Bukhari 1401

This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari presents the fundamental pillars of Islamic practice as articulated in the pledge of allegiance (bay'ah) given to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The three commitments mentioned—establishing prayer, paying Zakat, and offering sincere counsel to Muslims—represent core obligations for every believer.

The Threefold Pledge

The pledge encompasses: 1) Establishing prayer (iqamatus-salah) with its proper conditions, timings, and devotion; 2) Paying Zakat, the obligatory charity that purifies wealth and supports the needy; 3) Offering nasihah (sincere advice) to all Muslims, which scholars interpret as being truthful in one's relationship with Allah, His Book, His Messenger, and the Muslim community's leaders and common people.

Scholarly Commentary on Zakat

Classical scholars emphasize that Zakat constitutes one of Islam's five pillars, obligatory upon every Muslim who possesses the nisab (minimum wealth threshold) for a full lunar year. This pledge demonstrates that Zakat is not merely charity but a fundamental act of worship tied to one's Islamic identity.

Imam An-Nawawi comments that the pairing of prayer and Zakat in numerous Quranic verses and hadiths indicates their inseparable nature in defining Muslim practice. The fulfillment of Zakat purifies wealth, purifies the soul from stinginess, and establishes social welfare within the Muslim community.

Legal and Spiritual Dimensions

Jurists from all major schools of Islamic law agree that denying the obligation of Zakat constitutes apostasy, while willful refusal to pay it despite ability warrants disciplinary action from legitimate Islamic authority. The spiritual dimension reminds believers that wealth is a trust from Allah, and Zakat represents the return of rights to their proper owners among the eight categories mentioned in Surah At-Tawbah.