Punishment for Not Paying Zakāt: Reality in Light of Qur’an and Ḥadīth
Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 562
❖ Question:
In Jāmi‘ Masjid Mubārak Ahl al-Ḥadīth, Naṣīrābād, Shālamār Town, Lahore, Mawlānā Aḥmad Ṣāḥib was delivering a khuṭbah. He stated that whoever does not pay zakāt—whether he owns camels or goats—then on the Day of Resurrection, those camels or goats will have iron hooves, and they will be commanded to crush him.
Is this matter authentic? Kindly clarify it in light of the Qur’an and Ḥadīth.
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d:
✔ Clarification from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī:
Part of this subject is indeed found in the form of a marfū‘ ḥadīth reported by Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī. In it, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stated:
Whoever does not pay the zakāt of gold and silver, on the Day of Resurrection:
- Those coins will be heated in the Fire of Hell.
- His sides, forehead, and back will be branded with them.
✔ Evidence from the Qur’an:
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ﴾
(Sūrat al-Tawbah: 34)
Translation:
“And those who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah, give them glad tidings of a painful torment.”
This verse supports the ḥadīth regarding branding with gold and silver.
✔ Regarding Camels and Goats:
As for the claim in the khuṭbah that:
“Their hooves will be made of iron, and they will crush the person.”
—this is incorrect.
The authentic narration in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī only mentions:
- Those camels and goats will trample the person with their feet.
- They will gore him with their mouths.
But there is no authentic mention in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī or any other ṣaḥīḥ narration that their hooves will be made of iron.
❖ Advice to Preachers:
Therefore, it is respectfully advised to such preachers:
◈ Do not narrate fabricated or baseless statements.
◈ Restrict yourself to authentic Qur’anic verses and aḥādīth.
◈ Avoid false, self-made, and unfounded tales.
The Qur’an and authentic aḥādīth contain abundant material of encouragement and warning, which is sufficient and effective for admonition.
Moreover, severe warnings exist in the aḥādīth of the Prophet ﷺ against those preachers who narrate fabricated stories.
لعل فیه كفاية لمن له أدنی دراية
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
