Introduction to Zakaah 2/2

In a Saheeh (authentic) hadeeth, the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said: O child of Adam! Spend in charity and We (Allah) will spend on you.

There are numerous other benefits that may be found in the legislation of Zakaah.

A severe warning has been issued to those who do not offer Zakaah out of greed as well as those who fall short in doing so. Allah said:

{وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ . يَوْمَ يُحْمَىٰ عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنُوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ ۖ هَٰذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا مَا كُنتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ}

“And those who hoard up gold and silver (al-kanz: the money, the Zakaah of which has not been paid], and spend it not in the Way of Allah, - announce unto them a painful torment. On the Day when that (al-kanz: money, gold and silver, etc., the Zakaat of which has not been paid) will be heated in the Fire of Hell and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, (and it will be said unto them): ‘This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what you used to hoard’.” [Surah at-Tawbah:34-35].

Any type of wealth from which Zakaah has not been offered is regarded as hoarded up treasure (al-kanz) for which one will be punished on the Day of Judgement. This has been indicated in the saheeh hadeeth in which the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said:

«No owner of gold or silver who does not offer its due right (Zakaah) except that in the Day of Judgement, plates of fire will be beaten out for him, and they will be heated in the Fire of Jahannam (Hell) and their flanks, foreheads, and their backs will be branded with them. Whenever they will cool, it will be done again to them, on a Day of which its length is fifty thousand years, until Allah judges between all His slaves. He will see his path, either to Jannah (Paradise), or to Jahannam» (Muslim).

The Prophet then further mentioned (in the hadeeth) that one who owns camel, cattle, and sheep and does not offer the Zakaah due upon it will be punished through them on the Day of Judgement.

It has also been authentically reported of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessing be upon him, that he said: «Whomever Allah has provided with wealth and does not offer the Zakaah due upon it, on the Day of Judgement it will be made into a baldheaded poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say, ‘I am your wealth, I am your hoarded treasure!» The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, then recited Allah’s saying:

{وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۖ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ ۖ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ}

'Translation' {And let not those who covetously withhold of that which Allah has bestowed on them of His Bounty (Wealth) think that it is good for them (and so they do not pay the obligatory Zakaah). Nay, it will be worse for them; the things which they covetously withheld shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection} [Surah Aali ‘Imraan:180].