بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا أَن تُصِيبُوا قَوْمًا بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِينَ (6)
One of the Arab clans entered Islam. The Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) explained to them about the obligatory charity in Islam and it’s time every year (Zakkat).
Usually a delegated person goes to those people in their towns to collect the obligator Zakkat. The Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) sent to that town a man who’s name is Alwaleed bin Okba to collect the Zakkat from that clan that is named Ben Khuza’a. The chief of Ben Khuza’a name is Harith bin Dirar.
Harith bin Dirar and his clan people were ready to give the Zakkat. As the became good practicing Muslims.
Alwaleed bin Okba was late and didn’t come to them on time to collect the Zakkat, so they decided to deliver the Zakkat to the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) by themselves.
As they were approaching in their trip to the Madina, Alwaleed saw them from far away with their convoies and horses, so he thought that they are out to fight him.
Alwaleed didn’t wait, or conform or confront those people to ask them what happened about this incident. He was inpatient and returned back to the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) quickly.
The Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) asked Alwaleed about the Zakkat. Alwaleed said: “O Messenger of Allah, Harith bin Dirar and his people have turned away from Islam and came to fight me”.
The Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) sent to them someone to conform about this incident. By that time, they have already arrived to Madian. They said: “O Messenger we didn’t leave Islam, we are not out to fight, we came here to deliver the Zakkat to you”.
Then Allah (swt) revealed the following:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا أَن تُصِيبُوا قَوْمًا بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِينَ (6)
(6) O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.
References:
- Surat Al Hujurat – Aya 6