Surah At-Tawba
Chapter 9 · Verse 103 · Revealed in Madinah
“Take, [O, Muhammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke [Allah 's blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.”
Translation: Saheeh International
Listen to recitation
Mishary Rashid Alafasy
Reflection — Ibn Kathir
The Command to collect the Zakah and Its Benefits
Allah commanded His Messenger to take Sadaqah from the Muslims' money to purify and sanctify them with it. This Ayah is general, even though some said that it refers specifically to those who mixed good and evil deeds, who admitted to their errors. Some bedouin later thought that paying Zakah to the Leader was not legislated except to the Messenger ﷺ himself, using this Ayah as evidence,
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَلِهِمْ صَدَقَةً
Reflection — Maarif ul Quran
The imperative: خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً : "Take out of their wealth a Sadaqah (obligatory alms) " in the second verse (103) has its background. Some people, as mentioned a little earlier, had stayed back from the battle of Tabuk without a valid excuse. Then, out of remorse, they had tied themselves to the pillars of the Mosque. Then came the acceptance of their repentance as revealed in the previous verse (102) and. they were released from their self-imprisonment. When this happened, they presented their entire wealth as a token of their gratitude so that it could be given out as Sadaqah. The Holy Prophet ﷺ refused to accept it by saying that he did not have the authority to take it. There-upon, this verse (103): خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً. (Take out of their wealth a Sadaqah) was revealed and he accepted to take one third of it as Sadaqah. He did not take the entire wealth, rather, took a part of it - as indicated in the verse. The preposition, مِن (min: out of) proves it.
Collection and disbursement of Zakah is the responsibility of an Islamic State
What does this verse bring up for you today?