Punishment of Not Paying Zakaah !!

Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه ) reported: The Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said,

“Any person who possesses gold or silver and does not pay what is due on it (i.e., the Zakat); on the Day of Resurrection, sheets of silver and gold would be heated for him in the fire of Hell and with them his flank, forehead and back will be branded. When they cool down, they will be heated again and the same process will be repeated during the day the measure whereof will be fifty thousand years. (This would go on) until Judgement is pronounced among (Allaah’s) slaves, and he will be shown his final abode, either to Jannah or to Hell.”

It was asked, “How about someone who owns camels and does not pay what is due on him (i.e., their Zakat)?” He (صلى الله عليه و سلم) replied, “In the same way the owner of camels who does not discharge what is due in respect of them (their due includes their milking on the day when they are taken to water) will be thrown on his face or on his back in a vast desert plain on the Day of Resurrection and they will trample upon him with their hoofs and bite him with their teeth. As often as the first of them passes him, the last of them will be made to return during a day the measure whereof will be fifty thousand years, until Judgement is pronounced among (Allaah’s) slaves, he will be shown his final abode either to Jannah or to Hell.”

Ruling on paying Zakah for building Masjids, Buying Books, Schools, Roads, etc..

 

Q: What is the ruling on paying Zakaah (obligatory charity) money for helping to build a Masjid (mosque) whose construction was halted due to lack of financial resources?

Answered by Sheikh ibn Baaz رحمه الله :

According to the opinion of the majority of Muslim scholars and the Ijma` (consensus) of our Salaf (righteous predecessors), Zakaah is NOT to be paid for constructing Masjids, buying books, etc.

Rather, Zakaah must be spent on the eight categories which are mentioned in the Ayah (Qur’aanic verse) of Surah Al-Tawbah, i.e. the poor, the needy, those employed to collect (the funds), to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islâm), to free captives, for those in debt, in the cause of Allaah, and for the wayfarer (a traveler who is cut off from everything).

Not every person who extends his hand for Zakaah is Deserving of it

Q. 381. Is every person who extends his hand for Zakaah deserving of it?

Answer by Sheikh Muhammad bin Salih Al- ‘Uthaimeen رحمه الله

Not every person who extends his hand for Zakaah is deserving of it, because there are those among mankind who extend their hands for money while they are wealthy. This type of person will come on the Day of Resurrection while his face will not have a bit of flesh on it, ^[1] may Allaah protect us from that. He will come on the Day of Resurrection, on the Day when the witnesses will stand and the bones of his face will be visible, may Allaah protect us from that, and the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said:

"He who begs the riches of others to increase his own wealth is asking only for burning coals (in the Hereafter), so let him ask a little or much."^[2]

I would like to take this opportunity to warn those people who ask people in an importune manner when they are in possession of wealth. Indeed, I warn everyone who accepts Zakaah when he is not entitled to receive it. I say to him: If you took Zakaah to which you are not entitled, you are only consuming ill-gotten gains, may Allaah protect us from that, and a person should fear Allaah, for the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said:

"Whoever tries to make himself self-sufficient, Allaah will make him self-sufficient; and whoever abstains from asking others, Allaah will make him content." ^[3]

But if a man extends his hand to you, and you believe it is most likely that he is entitled to it, and you gave him, then the Zakaah will be counted, and you will have discharged your obligation, even if it became apparent after that that he was not entitled to it. There is no need to think that you have to pay the Zakaah again (to someone else).

The evidence for this is the story of the man who gave money in charity, and he gave charity first to a prostitute and the people began to talk, saying: “Have you given money tonight to a prostitute?” He said: “All praise and thanks are to Allaah.”

Those Entitled to Receive Zakaah

Imaam Muhammad bin Saalih Al-'Uthaimeen

 

The categories of people entitled for Zakaah as mentioned in the Noble Qur'aan:

إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاء وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللّهِ وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

“The charity (Zakaah) is only for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect (the Zakaah), those whose hearts will be inclined (towards Islaam, by giving them Zakaah), for slaves, for those in debt, for (Jihaad in) the Cause of Allaah, & for the wayfarer (i.e. destitute traveler). It is an obligation imposed by Allaah, & Allaah is the All-Knower, the All-Wise.”

Surah At-Tawbah (9:60)

Is Zakaah better in Ramadan, even though it is one of the pillars of Islaam?

Sheikh ‘Uthaimeen (رحمه الله) replied: 

Zakaah, like other good deeds, is better when done at a time of virtue, but when zakaah becomes obligatory and the year has passed, it becomes obligatory for a person to pay it, and he should not delay it until Ramadan. If the year is completed in Rajab, then he should not delay it until Ramadan, rather he should pay it in Rajab. If the year is completed in Muharram then he should pay it in Muharram, and not delay it until Ramadan. But if the year is completed in Ramadan, then he should pay it in Ramadan.  

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Fataawa Islamiyyah, 2/164