View all previous videos in this series here:    • Lives of the Sahaba - Series  

In this video, Shaykh Dr. Yasir Qadhi concludes the discussion of the battles of Ridda, where false prophets emerged and various tribes refused to pay Zakah.

Battles of Ridda continued:

The previous video discussed false prophets Musaylima and Sajjah. The 3rd such false prophet was Tulayha Al Asadi. He fought in the battle of The Trench against the Muslims, but then accepted Islam after that. He never saw the Prophet, therefore, was not a sahaba. Khalid Ibn Walid was sent to vanquish him. At this point he fled but then re-accepted Islam and became known for his participations in the battles of Yarmouk and Qadisiyah. He eventually died as a shaheed (martyr) in the battle of Nahavand against the Persian.

Muslims who refused to pay Zakat: (3rd category of people)

-They argued Surah Tauba mentions the Prophet Muhammad (s) to take zakah, not Abu Bakr (r). This is "Ta'weel" - difference in interpretation.
-Question becomes: Are these people considered to be Muslims for refusing zakah?
-Umar (r) mentioned these people say Shahada so how can they be fought? Abu Bakr (r) refused to differentiate between Salah and Zakah, so Umar stood corrected.
-Controversy here is whether actions are required to be a Muslim, or can one simply proclaim it verbally without following up with actions?
-70 verses mention "eman and amal" showing they go hand-in-hand

-There are 4 types of people with regards to eman and amal: (belief and actions)

a) Believe and act - they are Muslim
b) Don't believe or act - non Muslim
c) Don't believe, but act - Hypocrites
d) Believe but don't act - this is the controversial one.

Orthodox Sunni Islam says this is not permissible and that knowledge must result in action.

Abu Bakr (r)'s incident is the evidence that zakah is needed

What is required from Zakah and Salah to be a Muslim?

Opinion 1: Minimum requirement to be a Muslim is to pray (semi regularly even). One who never prays is not a Muslim. (think about Shaytan refusing one sajda/prostration, so what about Muslim who refuses 30 per day)
Evidences: Surah Qiyamah:31, Muddathir:42, Mursalat:48, Baqarah:143

Opinion 2: Prayer and Zakah are required to be a Muslim. Dozens of verses in Quran are paired together and prove this point.

Opinion 3: Prayer and Zakah are judged (since they are the only things visible) but all 5 rukuns/pillars are required. 48:37

Note, Umar (r) reminded Abu Bakr (r) that these people say the Kalima. Here, Abu Bakr (r) did not refute this, but rather wanted the "haqq" (right) of Islam be done, by them paying the Zakah.

Also, Abu Bakr (r) did not take any prisoners of war (POW) from them.

Another highly controversial side incidence occurred regarding Khalid Ibn Waleed being sent by Abu Bakr (r) to Malik Ibn Nuwayra, the Chieften of Banu Tamim (one such tribe refusing to pay Zakat). Many were chained up as prisoners of war and taken back to Abu Bakr (r). Malik and a few others were executed. As well, Khalid Ibn Waleed married Malik's wife thereafter, who was reported for her beauty. Some explain Khalid did not mean for the execution but the entire matter caused a big controversy.
Keep in mind, that sahaba were not angels and they can sin and make mistakes.

Umar wanted to punish Khalid, but Abu Bakr (r) called this a mistake on the part of Khalid Ibn Waleed. However, Abu Bakr (r) paid blood money to the family of Malik. The point here is that blood money is only paid to Muslims, showing the status of people who refused to pay Zakah.

One group even admitted to Abu Bakr (r) that we were greedy for our money, we didn't intend to commit Kufr.

It appears that Abu Bakr (r) fought them as sinners and rebels, not as non Muslims. This could also suggest that those who hold back Zakah based on greed and not denying its right, are not considered to be disbelievers. Some also said that if you are willing to go to war against the legitimate Islamic Khalifa, this could mean Kufr (disbelief).

Presentation details: April 29, 2015 at the Memphis Islamic Center

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