Withholding zakah

It is narrated from Abu al-Ahwas that Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Whoever does not pay zakah, his prayer is not accepted.

It is narrated from Salamah that al-Dahhak said: Prayer is not accepted except along with paying zakah.

It is narrated from Abu al-Ahwas that Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The one who withholds zakah is not a Muslim.

It is narrated from Ibrahim that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If they refuse to give me even a piece of rope which they used to give to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), I will certainly fight them. Then he recited this blessed verse: "Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is nothing but a messenger; messengers have indeed passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels?"

It is narrated from Abu al-Zubayr that Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When you have paid the zakah of your wealth, its evil has been removed from you.

Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent me (to Yemen), he said to me: "You are going to a people from the People of the Book, so invite them to testify that there is no god but Allah and to (accept) my messengership. If they accept that, then inform them that Allah Almighty has made five prayers obligatory upon them in every day and night. If they accept that, then inform them that Allah Almighty has made zakah obligatory upon them in their wealth, to be taken from their rich and spent on their poor. If they accept that, then beware of (taking) the best and most valuable of their wealth, and protect yourself from the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no veil between it and Allah Almighty."

It is narrated from al-Harith that Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The one who does not pay zakah has been cursed.

Al-Harith narrated a similar statement from Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).

Al-Harith bin Abdullah narrates from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that those who do not pay zakah will be cursed on the Day of Resurrection on the tongue of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

Muthanna bin Sa'id said: I heard Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), when a group of Bedouins complained to him about the zakah, say: "Gather the zakah and pay it at its time; then whatever is taken from you after that is an injustice done to you."

Sayyiduna Jarir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I said to my sons: "O my sons, when the zakah collector comes to you, do not hide anything of your wealth from him."

It is narrated from Abu Uthman that Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When the zakah collector comes to you and says, "Bring out your zakah," you should (promptly) bring out the zakah. If he accepts it, that is very good; and if he refuses, then turn your back on him and do not argue with him, and say: "O Allah, I hope for reward from You for what he has taken from me," and do not curse him.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jarir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the zakah collector goes back from you, let him go back in a state of being pleased with you."
Al-Sha'bi said: The one who transgresses in (collecting) zakah is like the one who withholds it.

Abd al-Rahman bin Jabir bin Abdullah narrates from his father, Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Disliked riders will soon come to you. When they come to you (to collect zakah), welcome them and make room for them, and leave them free to take what they seek. If they act justly, it is for their own good; and if they act unjustly, its burden is upon them. You should satisfy them, for the completion of your zakah lies in their satisfaction; and they, too, should pray for you."

Al-Dahhak said: Whenever Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) found out that (some) wealth had been hidden from zakah, he would take one-fifth of it.

Ubaydullah bin Raziq said that he heard al-Hasan say that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever pays the zakah of his wealth has paid the due that was upon him, and whoever gives more, it is better for him (he alone receives the reward for that extra giving)."

It is narrated from Ikrimah that Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: Whoever has paid the zakah of his wealth, there is no sin upon him even if he does not give (further) charity.