Not Paying Zakat

Allah, the Most High, says, "And let not those who covetously withhold of the gifts which Allah hath given them of His Grace, think that it is good for them: Nay, it will be the worse for them: Soon it will be tied to their necks like a twisted caller, on the Day of Judgment. To Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. And Allah is Well-Acquainted with all that ye do . "

(Surat AI-Imran: 180)

The Qur'an also states:

"And woe to those who pay not Zakat and who even deny the Hereafter. For those who believe and work deeds of righteousness is a reward that will never fail." (Surat Fussilat:  6-7)

Allah, the Almighty, says :

"And there are those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah: announce unto them a most grievous chastisement. On the Day when it will be heated in the Fire of Hell and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs. This is the (treasure) which ye hoarded for yourselves: taste ye, then, the (treasures) ye hoarded." (At- Tawbah: 34-35)

The Prophet (pbuh) said,

"A wealthy person who has got gold and silver, but does not pay the Zakat due on the same, (should know that) his gold and silver will be melted on the Day of Judgment and Converted into slabs which will then be heated in the fire of Hell, and then has sides, his forehead, and his back will be branded therewith. When these slabs will get cold, they will be heated up once more in the furnace of the Hell, the branding will be continued throughout the day, the duration of which will be equal to fifty thousand years, and the cases of all the people will have been decided by this time and they will be shown their way either to the Hell or to Paradise.” [1]

It was related that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,

"There are three people who will enter the Fire: An oppressive leader, a wealthy person who does not pay Allah's right from his wealth and a proud poor.”[2]

Ibn 'Abbas, (may Allah be pleased with him), said, "Whoever has enough property to make pilgrimage or to pay Zakat but he does not will ask Allah to return (to this world) when dying." Someone said, "Ibn 'Abbas, fear Allah, No one asks for return but the unbelievers." Then Ibn ' Abbas read Allah's saying:

“And spend something (in charity) out of the substance which We have bestowed on you, before death should come to any of you and he should say, 'O my Lord! Why didst thou not give me respite for a little while I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good.”  (Surat Al-Munafiqun: 10)

There is no Zakat on (gold or silver) jewelry that is for permissible use, but if it is prepared for uses of renting or as an article which is pennanent acquisition then Zakat is obligatory. Zakat is also obligatory for trade .

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, related that the Prophet (pbuh) said,

"Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay the Zakat of his wealth will be made like a baldheaded poisonous male snake with two black spots over its eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say, "I am your treasure," Then he recited the following verse,

“And definitely let not the ones who are miserly with what Allah has given them,' no indeed, it is an evil (thing) for them. They shall have annulated (about their necks) whatever they were miserly with, on the Day of Resurrection and to Allah is the inheritance of the heavens and the earth,' and Allah is Ever Cognizant of whatsoever you do.” (Surat AI-Imran: 180)[3]

In his commentary on Allah's saying:

“On the Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, -This is the (treasures) which ye hoarded for yourselves: taste ye, then the (treasures) ye hoarded”

(Surat At- Tawbah: 35)

Ibn Mas'ud said, “Dirham and Dinar will not be put in his skin collectively but separately and will cover him totally .”

It was related that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:

"Five (actions) entail five (punishments).”

They asked, "What does it mean?" He said:

“Whenever some people break a covenant, Allah will entice their enemy to attack them. If they rule in other than Allah's law, they will be plagued with poverty. If indecency (adultery) prevails them, there will be more deaths. If they give short scales or weights they will be deprived of tillage and will suffer the barren years, if they do not pay Zakat, there will be no rain.”[4]

Muhammad Ibn Yusuf Al-Feriabi said,  Once I went out accompanied with a group of my friends to visit Abu Sann'an, may Allah have mercy on him. When we entered his house and sat down for a while, he said,

“Let us visit a neighbor whose brother has recently died to console him.” Then, we all went to the man but we found him wailing and impatient for the death of his brother. Accordingly, we tried to console him but of no avail. We admonished him that death is an inevitable end.

Then, he said, I know. I just weep for my brother’s death abode and the torture he is in. We asked, “Did Allah enable you to know the Unseen?” He said,” Of course not, but when I buried him and people went away I sat down by his grave. Meanwhile, I heard a sound of distress. I heard someone crying.” Oh, they left me alone to suffer the torture. I was praying, and fasting.

Then, I wept and out of pity I began to snatch the grave to see him. The grave was full of fire and I noticed a circle of fire around his neck.

Out of pity I extended my arm to extricate him from such circle of fire. No sooner did I extend my hand than my fingers were burnt.

Then, the man showed us his burnt hand. He went on saying; I hoarded the earth over him again and went away. Thus, how can I keep patient after I have seen how he is. We, then, asked, "What did your brother do in this world?" He replied . “He did not pay Zakat." We said, "This is in accordance with Allah's saying,

“And not those who covetously withhold of the gifts which Allah hath given them of His Grace, think that it is good for them: Nay, it will be the worse for them: Soon it will be tied to their neck like a twisted collar on the day of Judgment.” (Surat Al-Imran: 180)

Your brother, therefore, is being tortured in advance in his grave until the Day of Judgment .

Afterwards, we went ahead to Abu Dharr., the Prophet's companion, and told him this man's story. We also said, "When a Jew or a Christian dies, we do not notice them suffering like that," He said; "They are undoubtedly in the Hell-fire.

Allah just shows you the abode of the Muslims to learn the lesson. Allah, the Most High, says,

“Now have come to you, from your Lord proofs (to open your eyes): If any will see, it will be for (the good of) his own soul: If any will be blind it will be to his own (harm) I am not (here to watch over your doing).”  (Surat AI-An'am: 104).