Does the fighting of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq against those who withheld zakah indicate their disbelief and apostasy?

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, does the fighting of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq against those who withheld zakah indicate their disbelief and apostasy?

Answer:
No, it does not indicate their disbelief and apostasy. It only indicates that they refused to pay zakah and had strength and power to defend themselves, so they were fought. It is not that they were apostates, but that they had neglected the zakah. As for the one who denied the message of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) who apostatized, and they said, "If he had been a prophet, he would not have died," when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) died, they said they had apostatized, may Allah protect us from that. The Bedouins said, "If he had been a prophet, he would not have died." This is apostasy of disbelief, and they are fought as apostates are fought. Yes.