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The Punishment for Him Who Evades Payment of Zakat (Poor-due)
Never should such people, who have been bestowed with riches by the Magnificent Lord, consider evading the expense of riches good for themselves. On the contrary, it would prove to be bad for them, for halters shall be hung around the necks of such people on the Day of Judgement.
The position of zakat is the same as the obligatory prayer and Ramadan fasting. It is one of the pillars of Islam. If we deliberately do not pay zakat, then we have violated His command. Threats for people who violate the obligation to pay zakat have also been mentioned in the Qur’an and hadith. How will Allah
punish those who do not pay zakat?
Evidence About People Who Do Not Pay Zakat
Allah has mentioned many things in His words regarding those who deny zakat or deliberately do not pay zakat.
Qur’anic Verses
The punishment for those who deny zakat is very severe, as illustrated in the following verses:
“O you who have believed, verily most of the Jewish scholars and the Christian monks do eat of people’s wealth through falsehood and they prevent people from the way of Allah. And those who store up gold and silver and do not spend it in the cause of Allah, then let them know that they will have a painful punishment.”
(Surah At-Taubah : Ayat 34)
The verse explains that there are pious people who deliberately disobey and do not fulfill their obligations, including not paying zakat. In fact, they like to hoard their wealth. So their actions will be rewarded by Allah as mentioned in the next verse:
“On the day when the gold and silver will be heated in Hellfire, and their foreheads, their stomachs, and their backs will be burned with it. (And it will be said to them: ‘This is your treasure which you have kept for yourselves, so feel now the consequences of what you have kept‘.”
(Surah At-Taubah: Ayat 35)
Read also: What is the Difference between Zakat, Infaq, and Sadaqah? This is the explanation
The above verse explains the punishment that is threatened to anyone who is miserly and deliberately does not pay zakat. On the Day of Judgment, they will find their wealth heated and ironed on their foreheads, stomachs, and backs. This threat is general, i.e. for anyone who is blessed with a lot of wealth, but is miserly. Islam does allow its people to accumulate as much wealth as possible, but at the same time, they must also be generous.
“Let not those who are stingy with the wealth that Allah has given them from His bounty think that stinginess is good for them. In fact, it is bad for them. The wealth that they hoard will be hung around their necks on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allah belongs all the inheritance in the heavens and the earth, and Allah knows what you do.”
(Surah Ali ‘Imran : Ayat 180)
The verse reminds the wealthy not to be miserly towards Allah and others. If they spend some of the wealth entrusted to them, it will protect them from disaster. The remaining wealth will also be blessed by Allah.
On the other hand, if they hold on to their wealth by not paying zakat, Allah will harden their hearts. Thus, it will be difficult for them to accept advice. Then, the wealth they hoard will be hung around their necks on the Day of Judgment as a punishment and torment.
hath bestowed upon them of His bounty think that it is better for them. Nay, it is worse for them. That which they hoard will be their collar on the Day of Resurrection. Allah's is the heritage of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is Informed of what ye do." — M. Pickthalls.” (Al ‘Imran R. 180.)
The verse reminds the wealthy not to be miserly towards Allah and others. If they spend some of the wealth entrusted to them, it will protect them from disaster. The remaining wealth will also be blessed by Allah.
On the other hand, if they hold on to their wealth by not paying zakat, Allah will harden their hearts. Thus, it will be difficult for them to accept advice. Then, the wealth they hoard will be hung around their necks on the Day of Judgment as a punishment and torment.
Hadith of Prophet Muhammad Saw
In addition to the words contained in the Qur’an, Allah also made the Prophet [Rasulullah] an example for his people in behavior. This includes the example of zakat. The Prophetic Hadith below explains what punishment a person will get if he does not pay zakat for his assets.
“Amr ibn Shuaib رضي الله عنه reported from his father from his grandfather that a woman (mother) came to Rasulullah . On her daughter’s hand was (wearing) a pair of gold bracelets. Rasulullah asked the mother: ‘Have you paid zakaah on the two gold bracelets (worn) by your daughter?’, the mother replied: ‘No’, Rasulullah said: ‘Will you be pleased if Allah wraps them on the Day of Judgment with two bracelets of fire?’, the mother spontaneously took off her daughter’s two gold bracelets and handed them to Rasulullah saying: ‘I give these two gold bracelets to Allah and His Rasulullah‘.”
(Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, and Al-Nasa’i.)
Punishment for Not Paying Zakat
Based on the explanations above, we can conclude that not paying zakat is a major sin. In fact, the punishment is not only in the hereafter but also in this world. Someone who denies the legal obligation of zakat can be called a disbeliever. In the Qur’an, people who belong to this group are dubbed as people who associate partners with Allah or polytheists.
Prayer, fasting, and Hajj are not accepted by people who deliberately do not pay zakat. The reason is, that all worship is interrelated, so it must be done perfectly. People who withhold their zakat are feared to die in a state of Su’ul Khotimah or in a bad state and deviate from Islam. Those who do not pay zakat will be tortured in this world before they die like Qarun and the Children of Israel. Allah has told us about Qarun’s person in His words:
“So We buried Qarun and his house in the earth.”
(QS. Al-Qashash: 81)
It is recorded in Bukhari, that the Holy Prophet (Rasulullah) said: Take the case of a man whom the Magnificent Lord has blessed with riches and he evades payment of Zakat. On Doomsday, his riches will be converted into a snake with a hairless hood (the fulness of venom and its deadly nature would have rendered the snake’s hood hairless). There will be two points under the mouth of the snake (these also are a symbol of the fullness of venom). This snake will be thrown round the neck of the man and seizing both jaws of the man the snake shall say to him: ‘See, I am your treasure.
Allah/ Rasulullah / علیہ السلام /رضي الله عنه /رَحِمَهَا ٱللَّٰهُ
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