8.1 Chapter One The Opinion That There Are No Other Financial Dues Beside Zakah
Many jurists argue that the only financial due approved in Islam is zakah.1 Whoever fulfills the requirement of zakah will have his or her wealth purified, and need not pay anything else except voluntarily. This is the predominant view among the later generations of jurists.
Sayings used in support of this view
1. Al Bukhari, Muslim, and others report from Talhah, "A man from Najd came to the Messenger of God (p). His hair was uncombed, and his loud voice [was heard] from a distance. He does not even understand what he says, until he came close to the Messenger of God (p) and started asking him about Islam. The Messenger of God (p)
said, 'Five prayers in the day and night' The man said 'Do I have to do more?' The Prophet said, 'No, unless you volunteer.' The Messenger of God (p) continued, 'And the fasting of Ramadan.' The man said, 'Do I have to fast other than this?' The Prophet answered, 'No, unless you volunteer . . .' and then the Prophet mentioned zakah. The man said, 'Do I have to pay anything else besides it? The Prophet said, 'No, unless you volunteer.' The man turned around and left saying, 'I shall not do anything more nor less than these.' The Messenger of God (p) commented, 'He will be successful if he honors this promise" or "he will enter the Garden if he honors this promise."2
2. Al Bukhari reports from Abu Hurairah, "A bedouin Arab came to the Prophet (p)