Is the one who leaves off zakah a disbeliever or a sinner?

Question:
Is the one who leaves off zakah a disbeliever?

Answer:
No, he is not a disbeliever; he is a sinner. He is compelled to pay it and obligated to do so. For this reason, on the Day of Resurrection, the one who left off zakah will be brought, and if it was camels, cattle, or sheep, they will be brought and trample him—may Allah grant us safety. The camels will trample him with their hooves and bite him with their mouths, and the cattle and sheep will trample him with their hooves and gore him with their horns. On a day whose measure is fifty thousand years, he will then see his path, either to Paradise or to the Fire. Likewise, he will be heated with his gold and silver and branded with it—may Allah grant us safety.
The point is that leaving off zakah is one of the major sins, and its owner deserves punishment and retribution in this world, unless he denies its obligation, in which case he is a disbeliever—may Allah grant us safety—or he fights to prevent it, in which case he is a disbeliever.
Q: Abu Bakr’s fighting them?
The Shaykh: They became disbelievers because they fought to prevent it; for whoever fights to prevent it has denied it. Because they fought, they were punished. As for the one who did not deny it, he is punished he is punished but does not become a disbeliever.
Q: How is Abu Bakr’s statement (If they prevented me from a rope) explained?
The Shaykh: (I would fight them over its prevention). If they refuse, they are fought, but they do not become disbelievers by the refusal unless they fight to prevent it. Their fighting to prevent it is a sign of their denial of it. May Allah grant us safety.