The Ruling on the One Who Withholds Zakah
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The Shaykh : Zakah is the third pillar of the pillars of Islam, and it is among the greatest of them. So much so that Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), in a narration from him, said: "Whoever withholds it out of stinginess is a disbeliever, even if he acknowledges its obligation". Just as the one who abandons prayer out of negligence is a disbeliever, even if he acknowledges its obligation. However, the second narration from Ahmad is that one does not become a disbeliever for withholding zakah out of stinginess while acknowledging its obligation. This is the well-known position in his school of jurisprudence, and it is what the explicit text indicates. This is based on what Muslim narrated from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 987a His side, meaning both sides, his forehead, and his back Sahih Muslim 987a. From where do we derive from this hadith that the one who withholds zakah does not become a disbeliever?
The student: His saying (peace and blessings be upon him)Sunan Abi Dawud 1658Sahih (Al-Albani)
The Shaykh : Good, what is the indication?
The student: A disbeliever is not given the choice between Paradise or the Fire.
The Shaykh : That a disbeliever has no way to Paradise. Good, you have done well. Therefore, the stronger position is that the one who withholds zakah out of stinginess while acknowledging its obligation does not become a disbeliever. This is also indicated by the statement of Abdullah ibn Shuqayq: "The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not consider any act of worship, the abandonment of which constitutes disbelief, except for prayer"
If any owner of gold or silver does not pay what is due on him, when the Day of Resurrection would come, plates of fire would be beaten out for him; these would then be heated in the fire of Hell and his sides, his forehead and his back would be cauterized with them.
ما من صاحب ذهب ولا فضة لا يؤدي منها حقها إلا إذا كان يوم القيامة صفحت له صفائح من نار وأحمي عليها في نار جهنم فيكوى بها جنبه وجبينه وظهرهWhenever these cool down, (the process is) repeated during a day the extent of which would be fifty thousand years, until judgment is pronounced among servants, and he sees whether his path is to take him to Paradise or to Hell.
كلما بردت أعيدت في يوم كان مقداره خمسين ألف سنة حتى يقضى بين العباد ثم يرى سبيله إما إلى الجنة وإما إلى النارThe student: His saying (peace and blessings be upon him)
he sees whether his path is to take him to Paradise or to Hell
ثم يرى سبيله إما إلى الجنة وإما إلى النارThe Shaykh : Good, what is the indication?
The student: A disbeliever is not given the choice between Paradise or the Fire.
The Shaykh : That a disbeliever has no way to Paradise. Good, you have done well. Therefore, the stronger position is that the one who withholds zakah out of stinginess while acknowledging its obligation does not become a disbeliever. This is also indicated by the statement of Abdullah ibn Shuqayq: "The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not consider any act of worship, the abandonment of which constitutes disbelief, except for prayer"