The Difference Between the One Who Abandons Zakah and the One Who Abandons Prayer Regarding Acknowledging Their Obligation

Question:
The questioner says: I heard from you, Honorable Shaykh, that the one who abandons zakah while acknowledging its obligation does not leave the religion. What is the case if he abandons prayer while acknowledging its obligation?

Answer:
If a person abandons the prayer while acknowledging its obligation, he exits the religion according to the correct opinion among the opinions of the scholars, due to the evidence that has come regarding this, such as his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): "The covenant between us and them is the prayer, so whoever abandons it has committed disbelief." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Between the servant and disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the abandonment of the prayer." As for zakah, if he acknowledges its obligation but withholds it out of stinginess, he does not commit disbelief, but it must be taken from him. It is obligatory for the one in authority to take it from him by force and distribute it to those who are entitled to it, because it is a right that is obligatory upon him, just as if he had a debt and refused to pay it. If he had a debt and refused to pay it, would not the one in authority and the judge compel him to pay the debt? If he refused, the judge would intervene and sell some of his property to pay off his debts. Yes, so it is with zakah: it is a financial right that is taken from him by force and paid to those who are entitled to it. Yes.