He also says: A final point. Many of us, especially the Bedouin, make mistakes in knowing the number of livestock they have and pay zakah without knowing the exact number, especially in sheep and goats.
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The questioner : Many of us, especially the Bedouin, make mistakes in knowing the number of livestock they have and pay zakah without knowing the exact number, especially in sheep and goats. Some have a large number but only pay zakah on a small number. What is the ruling of the Shari'ah in this case?
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for a person to be careful in calculating his wealth in order to pay the zakah due from it, whether that wealth is in livestock, grains and fruits, trade goods, or the two currencies (gold and silver). This is because zakah is paired with prayer in the Book of Allah, and withholding it entails a great punishment. Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said:[Ali 'Imran 3:180] And He, the Exalted, said: [At-Tawbah 9:34-35] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 987a So the matter is serious, and a person must be careful and account for his wealth so that he pays the zakah with certainty.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for a person to be careful in calculating his wealth in order to pay the zakah due from it, whether that wealth is in livestock, grains and fruits, trade goods, or the two currencies (gold and silver). This is because zakah is paired with prayer in the Book of Allah, and withholding it entails a great punishment. Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, 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 يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا ءاتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَهُمْ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌAnd those who hoard gold and silver and 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."
وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ * يَوْمَ يُحْمَى عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَى بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنُوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ هَذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا مَا كُنتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَIf 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. Whenever 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.
ما من صاحب ذهب ولا فضة لا يؤدي منها حقها إلا إذا كان يوم القيامة صفّحت له صفائح من النار فأحمي عليها في نار جهنم فيُكوى بها جنبه وجبينه وظهره، كلما بردت أعيدت في يوم كان مقداره خمسين ألف سنة، حتى يرى سبيله إما إلى الجنة وإما إلى النارThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.