Condition of those Delegations Who Refused to Pay the Zakat

In relation to what the condition was of those delegations who refused to pay the Zakat and were now returning from Medina after having seen Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) take this stand, one historian says:

“When these delegations saw Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) resolve, they left Medina and returned. However, as they were leaving Medina, they were contemplating two matters. Firstly, no discussion in relation to not paying the Zakat would be fruitful. The Islamic injunction in this regard was clear and it did not seem possible that the Khalifa would change his stance and resolve, especially as the Muslims agreed with his view and were ready to support him as the matter had become clear and evident to them. Secondly, in order to take advantage of the weakness and lack of numbers of Muslims they would launch such a severe attack on Medina, which would topple the Muslim government and put an end to this religion.”

(Muhammad al-Salabi, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) shakhsiyyat aur Karname [Muzaffar Garh, Pakistan: Maktabat al-Furqan], p. 278)

This was the view they held. They believed that in this way, they would be able to finish their religion and conquer them.