A speech by Ali Hasan on the precedent of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq in fighting those who withheld zakah.

Al-Halabi : In my research, Shaykh, a point became clear to me during the discussions on declaring someone a disbeliever regarding the issue of withholding zakah, so I would like to present it to see your opinion on it.

The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
Al-Halabi : Shaykh, in the same hadith, when 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) rebuked Abu Bakr, Abu Bakr said a word indicating that he did not fight them specifically for withholding zakah itself, but rather for their collusion in withholding it. He said: "By Allah, if they had prevented me from a ewe or a rope that they used to pay to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), I would have fought them over it." And the withholding of this ewe or rope does not make one a disbeliever, let alone be one of the pillars of Islam that is abandoned, or something like that. This is the first point. Second, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the hadith of Bahz ibn Hakim, from his father, from his grandfather: He did not say that he is a disbeliever, or that he should be killed, or anything of the sort. This indicates that his (may Allah be pleased with him) fighting them was only because of their collusion in withholding it and their fighting over it, especially in the circumstances of apostasy and the war of apostasy, and similar matters.

The Shaykh : You have done well, may Allah reward you with good.
Al-Halabi : May Allah reward you.