The ruling on accusing a merchant of not paying zakah

The questioner:
Is it permissible for someone to say, “Shaykh, so-and-so, for example, does not pay his zakah because he has not seen its effect on his relatives?” Some of his relatives may swear by Allah that he has not paid any of their debts or given them anything.

The Shaykh:
It is not permissible for anyone to accuse another person of not paying zakah.

The questioner:
This merchant will be praying.

The Shaykh:
Unless it is established with him that he does not pay it. If it is established, he might be paying it and you do not know. He might be hiding it and giving it to the poor, and you do not know. So do not rule that he does not pay zakah unless it is established with you by evidence. Yes.

The questioner:
As for merely depriving his relatives, that is not sufficient as evidence.

The Shaykh:
He may have given it to others. Yes. And although this is contrary to what is best, the closest of the poor to their relatives have the right to their zakah, unless there is a preventer from that, as will come later. But if he gave it to others, it is sufficient.