After the Prophet’s (sws) death, certain Arab tribes refused to pay Zakat. Caliph Abu Bakr (ra) then fought with and killed these people who refused to pay Zakat. Islamic Historians and scholars regard these wars as apostasy wars and claim that these people were killed not because of their rebellion against the government but because of their apostasy.

This same argument is made by Maulana Maududi in his book “مرتد کی سزا اسلامی قانون میں” where he reproduces a letter of Abu Bakr (ra) from Ibn Kathir’s “البدایة والنھایة” in which the Caliph commands the Muslim army to fight these people until they accept Islam, and if they do not, they should be fought and their wives and children should be taken as slaves.

What is Ghamidi sahab’s opinion on this:

1. Was Caliph Abu Bakr’s (ra) military action against these people due to their refusal to pay Zakat or due to their apostasy?

2. What is the authenticity of the letter of Abu Bakr found in Ibn Kathir’s book? If it is authentic, then doesn’t it contradict Ghamidi sahab’s stance that prisoners of war cannot be taken as slaves?

3. One last possibility is that these people were fought because of their apostasy and this was justified due to Itmam-e-Hujjat having been fulfilled on them. Is this the case?

Thanks.