The Philosophy of Zakāt — Page 18
THE PH ILOSOPHY OF ZAKAT 18 Allah and not to associate anything with Him and to observe Prayer and to pay the Zak ā t and to show kindness to all your relatives. ’ (Bukhari: Vol. 1, p. 165, printed Egypt) There is another Tradition and that was reported by Abu Huraira who said that once a Bedouin came to the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, and asked, ‘Do please tell me about an act which, if I do, shall take me straight to paradise. ’ The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‘Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him ; and observe Prayer which is binding, and pay the Zak ā t which may be due and keep fasts during the month of Ramadhan. ’ The Bedouin then said, ‘I bring Him as my witness, Who is the Lord of my life, that I shall not add a mite to it, nor shall I lessen a wee bit from it. ’ Then he went away. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, then said: ‘Anyone who wishes to see a man from among the dwellers of Paradise, he should see that man. ’ (Bukhari: Vol. 1, p. 169) Whenever the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, took the oath of allegiance from anyone, he never failed to mention these two (Prayer and Zak ā t) together. We have the Tradition in which Jabeer bin Abdullah reported that he took his oat h of allegiance and the Holy Prophet made it binding on