Ibn 'Abbas reported God's messenger as saying when he sent Mu'adh to the Yemen, “You will come to folk who are people of a book, so invite them to testify that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is God's messenger. If they obey that, tell them God has made obligatory for them five times of prayer every twenty-four hours. If they obey that, tell them God has made obligatory for them sadaqa to be taken from their rich and handed over to their poor. If they obey that, avoid taking the best parts of their property; and regard the claim of him who is wronged, for there is no veil between it and God." (Bukhari and Muslim.)
Hadith Context & Significance
This noble hadith from Mishkat al-Masabih 1772 establishes the foundational methodology for Islamic propagation, demonstrating the Prophet's wisdom in gradual religious instruction. The Yemen delegation represented People of the Book possessing prior monotheistic understanding, making this sequential approach particularly instructive for da'wah to all communities.
Hierarchy of Religious Obligations
The hadith establishes three essential pillars of Islam in sequence: Shahadah (testimony of faith), Salah (five daily prayers), and Zakat (obligatory charity). This ordering reflects their spiritual priority - faith first, then worship, then social responsibility.
Zakat serves as the practical manifestation of faith, purifying wealth and strengthening communal bonds. Its placement after prayer indicates that while prayer connects the servant to God, Zakat connects the servant to society.
Zakat Administration Principles
"Avoid taking the best parts of their property" establishes crucial guidelines for Zakat collection. Scholars interpret this as prohibiting collectors from demanding the choicest assets, instead taking average-quality wealth. This protects payers from hardship and maintains goodwill.
The instruction to "regard the claim of him who is wronged" emphasizes justice in wealth distribution. Imam Nawawi explains this means ensuring Zakat reaches deserving recipients without delay or injustice, as God directly witnesses such matters.
Legal Rulings Derived
This hadith proves Zakat's obligatory nature upon every Muslim possessing the nisab (minimum threshold). The phrase "made obligatory" indicates divine commandment, not optional charity.
The redistribution principle "from their rich to their poor" establishes local distribution as primary, though contemporary scholars permit transfer between regions when necessary. The emphasis on avoiding premium assets ensures Zakat remains a purification rather than burden.