The Obligation of Zakah, Its Virtue, and the Ruling on Withholding It

Zakah is one of the pillars of Islam, and it is the third of its pillars. It is the most emphatic of the pillars of Islam after the prayer. In giving it, there are great religious and worldly benefits, and in withholding it and being stingy with it, there are severe religious and worldly consequences. The scholars have agreed on its obligation, even though they differed on some matters, but in general, they agreed on its obligation and that whoever denies its obligation while residing in the lands of the Muslims is a disbeliever, an apostate, and has exited Islam; this is because its obligation is known necessarily from the religion of Islam. In the two Sahihs, from the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Islam is built on five: the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the prayer, giving zakah, fasting Ramadan, and performing Hajj to the House of Allah the Sacred."
The scholars differed on whether one who withholds it out of stinginess while acknowledging its obligation becomes a disbeliever or not.So some of them said: Some said that he becomes a disbeliever, and they cited as evidence the saying of the Exalted: [Surah Fussilat: 6-7] They also cited this as evidence that zakah is one of the pillars of Islam, and a pillar is like a column for a building; if it falls, the building falls.But the stronger opinion is: The stronger opinion is that one who withholds it out of stinginess does not become a disbeliever, but he is exposed to severe warning, refuge with Allah.

As for the verse, it is the saying of the Exalted: [Surah Fussilat: 6-7] The meaning of zakah here is the purification of the self, which is Islam and the oneness of Allah. As for the evidence that he does not become a disbeliever, it is what is established in Sahih Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever Allah has given wealth and he does not pay its zakah..." and he mentioned the hadith.And likewise his saying: "There is no owner of gold or silver who does not pay its zakah—or he said: its due—except that on the Day of Resurrection, sheets of fire will be made for him, and it will be kindled in the Fire of Hell, and he will be branded with it on his side, his forehead, and his back. Every time it cools, it will be renewed, on a day whose measure is fifty thousand years, until judgment is passed between the servants, and then he will see his path, either to Paradise or to the Fire." The indication from this hadith is clear.Meaning: His saying: "he will see his path, either to Paradise" indicates that he is not a disbeliever, otherwise he would have no path to Paradise.