the time of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, following the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), while the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were numerous, yet it was not reported that they took an increase, nor was there any statement to that effect. Scholars differed regarding the justification for this report. It was said: It was at the beginning of Islam, when financial penalties existed, and was then abrogated by the hadith we have narrated. Al-Khattabi narrated from Ibrahim al-Harbi that the obligatory age-group of animals is taken from the best of his wealth, without an increase in age or number, but he selects from the best of his wealth that which increases his charity in value by the amount of half the value of the obligation upon him. Thus, the intended meaning of "his wealth" here is the obligation upon him from his wealth, so it is increased in value by half of its amount; and Allah knows best.
As for the one who withholds Zakat while being outside the Imam's control, he shall be fought, because the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, fought those who withheld it, and Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "If they were to withhold from me a hobbling-rope (iqal) that they used to pay to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), I would fight them for it." If he is captured, along with his wealth, it is taken from him without any increase, and his offspring shall not be enslaved; because the crime was committed by others, and since the one who withholds is not enslaved, his offspring are even less deserving of it. If he is captured without his wealth, he is summoned to pay it, and asked to repent for three days. If he repents and pays, it is accepted; otherwise, he is killed, though he is not judged as an apostate. There is a narration from Ahmad indicating that he becomes a disbeliever by fighting over it, for Al-Maymuni narrated from him: "If they withhold Zakat as they withheld it from Abu Bakr, and fight over it, they shall not be inherited from, and the funeral prayer shall not be performed for them."
= And see Talkhis al-Habir by Ibn Hajar 2/160. (19) In 'A' and 'M': "bi-mawt" (at the death of). (20) In 'B' and 'M': "ahad 'anhum" (someone from them). (21) In 'M': "qawlan" (a statement). (22) In Ma'alim al-Sunan 2/33. (23) In 'M': "al-wajibah". (24) In 'A' and 'B': "khiyar". (25) In 'M': "tuqaddar". The phrasing in Ma'alim al-Sunan is: "fatazdadu 'alayhi al-sadaqatu bi-ziyadati shatri al-qimah" (and the charity is increased for him by an increase of half the value). (26) Previously mentioned on page 5.
