بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
Fasting in Ramadan is a pillar of Islam, which everyone seems to know because the vast majority of Muslims fast during this month.
What most people don’t seem to realise is that it is actually the 4th pillar of Islam – and that there are three pillars before it.
The first pillar is the Shahaadataan (the Two Testimonies of Faith) and the second is praying five times a day. Those are the two important ones and many people mess up on them by committing shirk (associating partners with Allah) and not praying regularly.
However, this post is about the third pillar of Islam which is the zakaah, which could be translated as the “poor-due” or the obligatory charity.
Contrary to popular belief, zakaah has nothing to do with Ramadan – unless a person’s zakaah is actually due in Ramadan (due to one year elapsing on his wealth). Zakatul Fitr, which IS related to Ramadan, is something different from zakaah.
Not all Muslims have to pay zakaah. It’s only those who fulfill the conditions (like having their wealth reach a certain amount and the lapse of one lunar year, for example) that need to pay the zakaah.
Sadly, many Muslims, on whom zakaah is due, don’t pay it. Some don’t pay it because they are very stingly and mistakenly believe that it will decrease their wealth. Others don’t pay it out of laziness. They keep saying “In shaa Allah, I have to do it” but then delay the payment, thus earning themselves a whole lot of sin and also depriving their fellow Muslims of this money that they were so in need of.
These people (who can’t be bothered to pay zakaah) also don’t seem to realise that not paying zakaah is a major sin. Not only that, the person who doesn’t pay zakaah will have to suffer truly awful consequences in the Hereafter.
This post is a reminder of those consequences. Some people might find it a bit disturbing but I think that it is extremely necessary.
The first thing that these people should remember is that they will never get away with not paying their zakaah.
وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّـهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۖ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ ۖ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۗ وَلِلَّـهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
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. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is Well-Acquainted with all that you do. [Surah Aal-Imran (3) : 180]
Imam Ibn Kathir (rahimahullah) stated in his explanation of this ayah (verse):
“Therefore, the Ayah says that the miser should not think that collecting money will benefit him. Rather, it will harm him in his religion and worldly affairs. Allah mentions the money that the miser collected on the Day of Resurrection,
﴿سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُواْ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ﴾
(the things that they are stingy with shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection.)”
What is it exactly that will be put around their necks? The follow hadeeth gives a very nice description of that thing.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : مَنْ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالاً فَلَمْ يُؤَدِّ زَكَاتَهُ، مُثِّلَ لَهُ مَالُهُ شُجَاعًا أَقْرَعَ، لَهُ زَبِيبَتَانِ يُطَوَّقُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، يَأْخُذُ بِلِهْزِمَتَيْهِ ـ يَعْنِي بِشِدْقَيْهِ ـ يَقُولُ أَنَا مَالُكَ أَنَا كَنْزُكَ . ثُمَّ تَلاَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ {وَلاَ يَحْسِبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ} إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ.
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu): “Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Anyone whom Allah has given wealth but he does not pay its zakaah, then, on the Day of Resurrection, his wealth will be presented to him in the shape of a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two poisonous glands in its mouth and it will encircle itself round his neck and bite him over his cheeks and say, “I am your wealth; I am your treasure.” Then the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) recited this Divine Verse:
وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّـهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ
And let not those who covetously withhold of that which Allah has bestowed on them of His Bounty (Wealth) [Surah Aal-Imran (3) : 180] until the end of the verse.”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Hadeeth No. 88]
So, those who don’t pay zakaah will get a nice snake around their necks.
Here is a video of a man who has a boa constricter around his neck. He’s demonstrating their lethal killing technique (i.e. strangling).
Those who refuse to pay zakaah should imagine being in this man’s shoes as this snake starts tightening itself around his neck. And they should remember that on the Last Day, it won’t be a demonstration. It will be a horrific punishment.
Unfortunately for those who can’t be bothered to pay their zakaah, encircling and biting is not the only thing that the snake will do.
عن ثوبان أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: مَن ترَك بعده كنزًا مُثِّل له شُجاعًا أقرَعَ يومَ القيامةِ له زَبيبتانِ يتبَعُه فيقولُ: مَن أنت ؟ فيقولُ: أنا كنزُك الَّذي خلَّفْتَ بعدَك فلا يزالُ يتبَعُه حتَّى يُلقِمَه يدَه فيقضِمَها ثمَّ يُتبِعُه سائرَ جسدِه
Thawban (radiallahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Whoever leaves a treasure behind (on which he did not pay the zakaah), then on the Day of Resurrection his wealth will be made like a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will follow him, and he will say, `Who are you’ The snake will say, `I am your treasure that you left behind,’ and will keep following him until the man gives it his hand; the snake will devour it and then devour his whole body”. [Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadeeth No. 3257. Shaikh Shuaib Al-Arnaut said that its isnaad (chain of narrators) was sahih (authentic) upon the condition of (Imam) Muslim.]
Can a snake devour an entire person? Well, yes and I came across a story about a man being swallowed by a snake not too long ago.
Here’s a video of a snake eating a rabbit (and it’s the mildest video I could found on this topic). If you are of those who haven’t paid zakaah, then just imagine yourself as the bunny.
(The first few minutes contain some music so please switch off those speakers.)
That was repulsive, wasn’t it? And this was one of the most sanitized videos on this topic!
Those who found this video hard to take should realise that what is waiting in the Hereafter, for those who don’t pay zakaah, is much worse than this.
And there’s more bad news.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الْأَحْبَارِ وَالرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ ۗ وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
يَوْمَ يُحْمَىٰ عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنُوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ ۖ هَـٰذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا مَا كُنتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ
O you who believe! Verily, there are many of the (Jewish) rabbis and the (Christian) monks who devour the wealth of mankind in falsehood, and hinder (them) from the Way of Allah (i.e. Allah’s Religion of Islamic Monotheism). 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 zakaah 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 (9) : 34-35]
Imam Ibn Kathir stated in his explanation of these two ayaat (verses):
“Allah’s statement,
﴿يَوْمَ يُحْمَى عَلَيْهَا فِى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَى بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ هَـذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لأَنفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُواْ مَا كُنتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ ﴾
(On the Day when that 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.”) These words will be said to them as a way of admonishing, criticizing and mocking them. Allah also said;
﴿ثُمَّ صُبُّواْ فَوْقَ رَأْسِهِ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْحَمِيمِ – ذُقْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْكَرِيمُ ﴾
(Then pour over his head the torment of boiling water. “Taste you (this)! Verily, you were (pretending to be) the mighty, the generous!”) (44:48-49). There is a saying that goes, “He who covets a thing and prefers it to Allah’s obedience, will be punished with it.” Because hoarding money was better to these people than Allah’s pleasure, they were punished with it. For instance, Abu Lahab, may Allah curse him, was especially active in defying the Messenger of Allah , and his wife was helping him in this regard. Therefore, on the Day of Resurrection, she will help in punishing him, for there will be a twisted rope of palm fiber on her neck. She will be gathering wood from the Fire and throwing it on him so that his torment is made harder by the hand of someone whom he used to care for in this life. Likewise, money was precious to those who hoarded it in this life. Therefore, money will produce the worst harm for them in the Hereafter, when it will be heated in the Fire of Jahannam (Hell), whose heat is quiet sufficient, and their forehead, sides and back will be branded with it.”
In today’s time, branding is done to animals. This is what the branding irons look like.
To those who are too lazy to pay their zakaah, can you imagine being branded with these?
And remember that the fire of Hell is much hotter than our fire.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : نَارُكُمْ جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءًا مِنْ نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ . قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنْ كَانَتْ لَكَافِيَةً. قَالَ : فُضِّلَتْ عَلَيْهِنَّ بِتِسْعَةٍ وَسِتِّينَ جُزْءًا، كُلُّهُنَّ مِثْلُ حَرِّهَا
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu): Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Your (ordinary) fire is one of 70 parts of the (Hell) Fire.” Someone asked, “O Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) This (ordinary) fire would have been sufficient (to torture the unbelievers),” Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “The (Hell) Fire has 69 parts more than the ordinary (worldly) fire, each part is as hot as this (worldly) fire.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadeeth No. 487]
To those who still have difficulty visualising this, just imagine you were in the place of the bull shown in the following video (the mildest one that I could find on this topic) and then you’ll have a better idea of what awaits those who don’t pay zakaah, on the Day of Judgement.
Did this video seem disturbing? Unfortunately, it is nothing compared to what will happen on the Last Day, because the branding on that day will burn through the entire body.
عَنِ الأَحْنَفِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فَمَرَّ أَبُو ذَرٍّ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ بَشِّرِ الْكَانِزِينَ بِكَىٍّ فِي ظُهُورِهِمْ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَبِكَىٍّ مِنْ قِبَلِ أَقْفَائِهِمْ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ جِبَاهِهِمْ . – قَالَ – ثُمَّ تَنَحَّى فَقَعَدَ . – قَالَ – قُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا قَالُوا هَذَا أَبُو ذَرٍّ . قَالَ فَقُمْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ مَا شَىْءٌ سَمِعْتُكَ تَقُولُ قُبَيْلُ قَالَ مَا قُلْتُ إِلاَّ شَيْئًا قَدْ سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ نَبِيِّهِمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا تَقُولُ فِي هَذَا الْعَطَاءِ قَالَ خُذْهُ فَإِنَّ فِيهِ الْيَوْمَ مَعُونَةً فَإِذَا كَانَ ثَمَنًا لِدِينِكَ فَدَعْهُ
Al-Ahnaf ibn Qais reported: While I was in the company of the (elites) of Quraiah, Abu Dharr came there and he was saying: Give glad tidings to the hoarders of riches that their backs would be branded (so deeply) that (the hot iron) would come out of their sides, and when the backs of their necks would be branded, it would come out of their foreheads. He (Abu Dharr) then went away and sat down. I asked who he was. They said: He is Abu Dharr. I went to him and said to him: What is this that I heard from you which you were saying before? He said: I said nothing but only that which I heard from their Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). I again said: What do you say about this gift? He said: Take it, for today it is a help. But when it becomes a price for your religion, then abandon it. [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 2177]
So, the punishment of those who don’t pay zakaah includes an awful snake and branding. But that’s not all.
عَنْ أَبَي هُرَيْرَةَ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : مَا مِنْ صَاحِبِ ذَهَبٍ وَلاَ فِضَّةٍ لاَ يُؤَدِّي مِنْهَا حَقَّهَا إِلاَّ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ صُفِّحَتْ لَهُ صَفَائِحَ مِنْ نَارٍ فَأُحْمِيَ عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَيُكْوَى بِهَا جَنْبُهُ وَجَبِينُهُ وَظَهْرُهُ كُلَّمَا بَرَدَتْ أُعِيدَتْ لَهُ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ حَتَّى يُقْضَى بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ فَيُرَى سَبِيلُهُ إِمَّا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَإِمَّا إِلَى النَّارِ . قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَالإِبِلُ قَالَ : وَلاَ صَاحِبُ إِبِلٍ لاَ يُؤَدِّي مِنْهَا حَقَّهَا وَمِنْ حَقِّهَا حَلَبُهَا يَوْمَ وِرْدِهَا إِلاَّ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ بُطِحَ لَهَا بِقَاعٍ قَرْقَرٍ أَوْفَرَ مَا كَانَتْ لاَ يَفْقِدُ مِنَهَا فَصِيلاً وَاحِدًا تَطَؤُهُ بِأَخْفَافِهَا وَتَعَضُّهُ بِأَفْوَاهِهَا كُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ أُولاَهَا رُدَّ عَلَيْهِ أُخْرَاهَا فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ حَتَّى يُقْضَى بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ فَيُرَى سَبِيلُهُ إِمَّا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَإِمَّا إِلَى النَّارِ . قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَالْبَقَرُ وَالْغَنَمُ قَالَ : وَلاَ صَاحِبُ بَقَرٍ وَلاَ غَنَمٍ لاَ يُؤَدِّي مِنْهَا حَقَّهَا إِلاَّ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ بُطِحَ لَهَا بِقَاعٍ قَرْقَرٍ لاَ يَفْقِدُ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا لَيْسَ فِيهَا عَقْصَاءُ وَلاَ جَلْحَاءُ وَلاَ عَضْبَاءُ تَنْطِحُهُ بِقُرُونِهَا وَتَطَؤُهُ بِأَظْلاَفِهَا كُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ أُولاَهَا رُدَّ عَلَيْهِ أُخْرَاهَا فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ حَتَّى يُقْضَى بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ فَيُرَى سَبِيلُهُ إِمَّا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَإِمَّا إِلَى النَّارِ . قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَالْخَيْلُ قَالَ : الْخَيْلُ ثَلاَثَةٌ هِيَ لِرَجُلٍ وِزْرٌ وَهِيَ لِرَجُلٍ سِتْرٌ وَهِيَ لِرَجُلٍ أَجْرٌ فَأَمَّا الَّتِي هِيَ لَهُ وِزْرٌ فَرَجُلٌ رَبَطَهَا رِيَاءً وَفَخْرًا وَنِوَاءً عَلَى أَهْلِ الإِسْلاَمِ فَهِيَ لَهُ وِزْرٌ وَأَمَّا الَّتِي هِيَ لَهُ سِتْرٌ فَرَجُلٌ رَبَطَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْسَ حَقَّ اللَّهِ فِي ظُهُورِهَا وَلاَ رِقَابِهَا فَهِيَ لَهُ سِتْرٌ وَأَمَّا الَّتِي هِيَ لَهُ أَجْرٌ فَرَجُلٌ رَبَطَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لأَهْلِ الإِسْلاَمِ فِي مَرْجٍ وَرَوْضَةٍ فَمَا أَكَلَتْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْمَرْجِ أَوِ الرَّوْضَةِ مِنْ شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُ عَدَدَ مَا أَكَلَتْ حَسَنَاتٌ وَكُتِبَ لَهُ عَدَدَ أَرْوَاثِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا حَسَنَاتٌ وَلاَ تَقْطَعُ طِوَلَهَا فَاسْتَنَّتْ شَرَفًا أَوْ شَرَفَيْنِ إِلاَّ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ عَدَدَ آثَارِهَا وَأَرْوَاثِهَا حَسَنَاتٍ وَلاَ مَرَّ بِهَا صَاحِبُهَا عَلَى نَهْرٍ فَشَرِبَتْ مِنْهُ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَسْقِيَهَا إِلاَّ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ عَدَدَ مَا شَرِبَتْ حَسَنَاتٍ . قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَالْحُمُرُ قَالَ : مَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ فِي الْحُمُرِ شَىْءٌ إِلاَّ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ الْفَاذَّةُ الْجَامِعَةُ { فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ * وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ}
Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Any person who possesses gold or silver and does not pay what is due on it (i.e., the zakaah); 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 (Allah’s) slaves, and he will be shown his final abode, either to Paradise or to Hell.”
It was asked, “How about someone who owns camels and does not pay what is due on him (i.e., their zakaah)?” He (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) 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 (Allah’s) slaves, he will be shown his final abode either to Paradise or to Hell.”
It was (again) asked: “O Messenger of Allah, what about cows (cattle) and sheep?” He (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “If anyone who possesses cattle and sheep and does not pay what is due on them (i.e., their zakaah); on the Day of Resurrection, he will be thrown on his face in a vast plain desert. He will find none of the animals missing with twisted horns, without horns or with a broken horn, and they will gore him with their horns and trample upon him with their hoofs. As often as the first of them passes him, the last of them will be made to return to him during a day the measure whereof will be fifty thousand years, until Judgement is pronounced among (Allah’s) slaves; and he will be shown his final abode either to Paradise or to Hell.”
It was asked: “O Messenger of Allah, what about the horses?” Upon this he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “The horses are of three types. One, which is a burden for the owner; another which is a shield, and another one which makes its owner entitled to reward. The one for whom these are a burden is the person who rears them for show or for pride or for causing injury to the sentiments of the Muslims. They will be a cause of torment for their owners. The one for whom these are a shield is the person who rears them for the sake of Allah but does not forget the Right of Allah concerning their backs and their necks (i.e., he lets a needy ride on them), and so they are a shield for him. Those which bring reward to the one who rears them in pastures and gardens are the ones that are used in the Cause of Allah (Jihad) by the Muslims. Whatever they eat from the meadows and the gardens will be recorded on his behalf as good deeds so much so that their droppings and urine will be counted for an equal number of good deeds for him. Even when they break their tying rope and every height from which they climb and every hoof print which they leave will be counted as a good deed on behalf of the owner. When their owner leads them through a stream from which they drink, though he does not intend to quench their thirst, yet Allah would record for him the quantity (of water) of what they would drink on his behalf as good deeds.”
It was asked: “O Messenger of Allah, what about the donkeys?” Upon this he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Nothing has been revealed to me in regard to the donkeys in particular except this one Verse of a comprehensive nature:
فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ
So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. [Surah Az-Zalzalah (99) : 7 – 8]
[Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 2161]
Subhan Allah, so many different things mentioned in this hadeeth!
First, there was a mention of being trampled on by camels. Here’s what a camel’s hooves look like:
Those who have camels, and don’t pay zakaah on them (if it is above the required amount), risk being stomped on by them.
Here’s a video of a herd of camels on a plain. Just imagine being trampled by these.
Apart from camels, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) also mentioned that those who don’t pay zakaah on their cattle will be gored by them.
There are plenty of videos out there of bulls goring humans but those would be too gruesome to show.
Here’s a video of an angry ram attacking a bag. Those who don’t pay zakaah on their cattle should imagine themselves as the bag.
If that wasn’t enough, here is a video of a buffalo goring a lion.
If you find this gruesome, then what will you say about the horrors of the Day of Judgement????
Another thing that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) mentioned was horses. He stated that those who reared them for the cause of Allah would get a reward even for their dung and urine.
Yes, that’s horse dung. Many people will find that disgusting but there are some people out there who are getting rewarded for this!
You know what’s really disgusting? Hoarding one’s wealth and not being bothered to pay the zakaah due on it.
There’s one more punishment for those who don’t pay zakaah. However, this will happen in this life and will affect everyone: rain will be withheld from the sky.
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ : يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ خَمْسٌ إِذَا ابْتُلِيتُمْ بِهِنَّ وَأَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ تُدْرِكُوهُنَّ لَمْ تَظْهَرِ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي قَوْمٍ قَطُّ حَتَّى يُعْلِنُوا بِهَا إِلاَّ فَشَا فِيهِمُ الطَّاعُونُ وَالأَوْجَاعُ الَّتِي لَمْ تَكُنْ مَضَتْ فِي أَسْلاَفِهِمُ الَّذِينَ مَضَوْا . وَلَمْ يَنْقُصُوا الْمِكْيَالَ وَالْمِيزَانَ إِلاَّ أُخِذُوا بِالسِّنِينَ وَشِدَّةِ الْمَؤُنَةِ وَجَوْرِ السُّلْطَانِ عَلَيْهِمْ . وَلَمْ يَمْنَعُوا زَكَاةَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ إِلاَّ مُنِعُوا الْقَطْرَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَلَوْلاَ الْبَهَائِمُ لَمْ يُمْطَرُوا وَلَمْ يَنْقُضُوا عَهْدَ اللَّهِ وَعَهْدَ رَسُولِهِ إِلاَّ سَلَّطَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَأَخَذُوا بَعْضَ مَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ . وَمَا لَمْ تَحْكُمْ أَئِمَّتُهُمْ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَيَتَخَيَّرُوا مِمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ
It was narrated that Abdullah ibn Umar (radiallahu anhuma) said: “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) turned to us and said: ‘O Muhajiroon, there are five things with which you will be tested, and I seek refuge with Allah lest you live to see them: Immorality never appears among a people to such an extent that they commit it openly, but plagues and diseases that were never known among the predecessors will spread among them. They do not cheat in weights and measures but they will be stricken with famine, severe calamity and the oppression of their rulers. They do not withhold the zakaah of their wealth, but rain will be withheld from the sky, and were it not for the animals, no rain would fall on them. They do not break their covenant with Allah and His Messenger, but Allah will enable their enemies to overpower them and take some of what is in their hands. Unless their leaders rule according to the Book of Allah and seek all good from that which Allah has revealed, Allah will cause them to fight one another.’” [Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadeeth No. 4019. Graded “hasan” (good) by Shaikh Al-Albani (rahimahullah).]
To all those who don’t pay zakaah, I have a simple question: Why is it that you refuse to pay zakaah? Giving zakaah will not kill you rather it will benefit you by purifying your wealth.
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ إِنَّ صَلَاتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them, and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. [Surah At-Tawbah (9) : 103]
So now what, you ask? Whoever needs to pay zakaah and has delayed doing so, needs to pay it as soon as possible.
If YOU are one of those, then don’t waste any time.
First, make a list of all those things that you might have to pay zakaah on. Then consult a person of knowledge and find out how much you need to pay.
Then find a suitable Muslim who fits in one of the eight categories of zakaah (eg. poor, needy, in debt, etc) and give them the money. As far as I know, you don’t have to tell them that it is zakaah.
Your poor (Muslim) relatives have more right. Apart from that, you should try to pay it in the country that you (or your wealth) are in.
Please don’t say that it is difficult. It’s only 2.5% of the wealth once a year! People pay high premiums for insurance and also give income tax yearly in many countries but when it comes to zakaah, they get stingy!
If you haven’t paid your zakaah and are serious about doing so now that you know the grave consequences, then make it your main goal this Ramadan and get it done.
Remember, you cannot run away from the punishment of Allah.
And a final point: Yes, I know many of you found this post a bit horrific but I believe it was necessary so people could reflect over the consequences of their incorrect actions.
And Allah knows Better.