Some people are lax in paying zakah, and perhaps they do not pay it at its due time. What is the ruling on this matter?
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The questioner : In the last of this questioner's questions, he says: Some people are lax in paying zakah, and perhaps they do not pay it at its due time. What is the ruling on this matter?
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for the Muslim to pay zakah at its due time, because giving zakah is a pillar of Islam. A severe warning has been reported regarding those who are lax in it. Allah the Exalted said:[Ali 'Imran 3:180] And there is a hadith regarding this verse from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that whoever Allah has given wealth to, and he does not pay its zakah, will be represented to him on the Day of Resurrection as a bald, venomous snake. The scholars said that the shuja' is the male of the large snakes, and the aqr' is the one that has no hair on its head due to the abundance of its venom; its hair may have fallen out. meaning two glands like a grape, filled with venom. meaning it takes hold of the cheeks of the owner of the wealth, meaning his jaws, and bites them, saying: Sahih al-Bukhari 1403 And Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said: [At-Tawbah 9:34] meaning they do not pay its zakah. [At-Tawbah 9:34-35] I seek refuge in Allah.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
O dear brothers and listeners, His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, professor at the College of Sharia and Principles of Religion in al-Qasim, and preacher and imam of the Grand Mosque in the city of Unaizah, has answered your questions.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for the Muslim to pay zakah at its due time, because giving zakah is a pillar of Islam. A severe warning has been reported regarding those who are lax in it. Allah the Exalted said:
And let not those who [greedily] withhold what Allah has given them of His bounty ever think that it is better for them. Rather, it is worse for them. Their necks will be encircled by what they withheld on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. And Allah, with what you do, is [fully] Acquainted.
وَلا يَحسَبَنَّ الَّذينَ يَبخَلونَ بِما ءاتاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضلِهِ هُوَ خَيرًا لَهُم بَل هُوَ شَرٌّ لَهُم سَيُطَوَّقونَ ما بَخِلوا بِهِ يَومَ القِيامَةِ وَلِلَّهِ ميراثُ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ وَاللَّهُ بِما تَعمَلونَ خَبيرٌIt has two grapes
له زبيبتانHe takes hold of my two cheeks
يأخذ بلهزمّتيهI am your wealth, I am your treasure.
أنا مالك أنا كنزكAnd those who hoard gold and silver
وَالَّذينَ يَكنِزونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالفِضَّةَand spend it not in the way of Allah - give them tidings of a painful punishment. (35) The Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell and seared therewith will be their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, [it will be said], "This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard."
وَلا يُنفِقونَها في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرهُم بِعَذابٍ أَليمٍ * يَومَ يُحمى عَلَيها في نارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكوى بِها جِباهُهُم وَجُنوبُهُم وَظُهورُهُم هذا ما كَنَزتُم لِأَنفُسِكُم فَذوقوا ما كُنتُم تَكنِزونَThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
O dear brothers and listeners, His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, professor at the College of Sharia and Principles of Religion in al-Qasim, and preacher and imam of the Grand Mosque in the city of Unaizah, has answered your questions.