Zakat [Poor Rate]
38 sayings
The narrator asked Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) regarding the verse: they shall have that whereof they were niggardly made to cleave to their necks on the resurrection day [Surah Aale Imran 3:180]. Imam (a.s.) replied, "For one who does not pay Zakat from his wealth, the Almighty Allah will make a serpent of fire from that wealth and put it around the neck of that person on the Day of Judgment. This serpent will sting the person continuously till the time he is giving account of his deeds. According to that verse, acting miserly in spending wealth means non payment of Zakat."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 296 link
"Surely some people will have their hands tied behind their necks when they are brought out of the graves on the Day of Judgment. They will not have the strength to hold the lightest thing. Some angels will accompany them torturing them severely and saying: These are the people who did not do any good from the abundance. Allah had given a lot to these people but they did not pay Allah's share from their wealth."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 296/297 link
"One who owns gold and silver and does not pay Zakat; the Almighty Allah will do the accounting of his deeds in a barren desert on the Day of Judgment. He will appoint a serpent whose venom would have reached its hair from its head. The serpent will follow the person who will try to run away. However when he comes to know that it is difficult to save himself from the serpent, the person will try to defend himself using his hands. The serpent will pounce upon him within the twinkling of an eye and shackle him by his neck. This is in accordance with the saying of Allah: they shall have that whereof they were niggardly made to cleave to their necks on the resurrection day [Surah Aale Imran 3:180]. Similarly one who owns camels, cows, sheep and goats and does not pay Zakat, the Almighty Allah will capture him in a barren desert. Every poisonous creature present over there will sting him. Similarly one who owns dates, grapes and farms and does not pay Zakat, the Almighty Allah will shackle him in the ring made as large as the seven layers of the earth."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 297 link
Once a person sent the narrator to Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.). This person used to murmur in his sleep out of fear of a woman. His voice used to increase so much that it reached the neighbors. Imam (a.s.) told the narrator to go and ask that person whether he had avoided paying Zakat. The person replied, "By Allah! I pay Zakat regularly." Imam (a.s.) told the narrator to convey that he pays Zakat regularly but does not give it to those who are eligible.
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 297/298.. link
It is narrated that Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.) said that One who does not pay Zakat, will desire to return to this world once again after his death. This verse of the Holy Quran points out the same fact: Until when death overtakes one of them, he says: Send me back, my Lord, send me back; Haply I may do good in that which I have left.[Surah Mominoon 23:99-100]"
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 298 link
"There are two sins in Islam whose punishment will not be given in this world before the reappearance of Imam-e-Zamana. One of them is stoning a fornicator who is married and another is breaking the neck of the person who does not pay Zakat."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 298 link
"One who does not pay Zakat throughout his life, will desire to return to this world at the time of his death. One who avoids payment of a penny of Zakat and he dies, he has an option i.e. to die as a Jew or as a Christian."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 298 link
It is narrated from an infallible that One who avoids payment of a single penny of Zakat and he dies, he will not be considered a Muslim or a believer. Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.) said, "One who pays Zakat, his wealth will never be wasted neither on land nor in the sea. When the Qaim of the progeny of Muhammad reappears, he will cut off the heads of those who do not pay Zakat."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 298 link
"One who is needy and does not accept Zakat, is like one on whom Zakat has become obligatory and he is not paying it."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 299 link
Every Muslim should pay alms. If he cannot do so, he must work with his own hands to avail himself of it, and pay alms too. If this is impossible either, he should help the needy. If he cannot do so, he should bid them to good or forbid them from evil, for this is in itself giving alms.
Nahj al Fasahah, Tradition No. 551, Page No. 81 link
"One who takes out full Zakat from his wealth and disburses it in the proper manner would not be questioned from where he gathered his wealth."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 77 link
Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.) narrates from his father that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, "Whenever Allah wants to offer something good to His slave He sends the angel who is the treasurer of Paradise to that person. That angel strokes the chest of that slave and he would get the virtue of paying Zakat."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 77 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Amirul Momineen (a.s.) says in his will, "By Allah, be careful about Zakat because it silences the anger of your Lord."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 77 link
The narrator says that he heard Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.) say, "Protect your wealth with the help of Zakat. Cure the sick among you with the help of Sadaqah. And no wealth is lost in land or sea except of the one who does not pay Zakat."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 77 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
The zakat of power is equity
Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5448; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 100 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
The zakat of beauty is chastity
Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5449; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 100 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
The zakat of prosperity is goodness to one's neighbours and maintaining relations with one's kin.
Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5453; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 100 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
The zakat of health is exerting oneself in Allah's obedience
Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5454; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 100 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
The zakat of courage is fighting in the way of Allah.
Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5455; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 100 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Fast, for that is the zakat of the body
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 99, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 100 link
Verily upon everything is its zakat, and the zakat of knowledge is to teach it to those who are worthy of it.
Bihar al-Anwar, p. 247, no. 77; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 100 link
Good moral conduct is the zakat of bounties, intercession is the zakat of high status, ailments are the zakat of the body, amnesty is the zakat of victory, and all that you give out zakat on is protected from being snatched away from you.
Bihar al-Anwar, p. 268, no. 182; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 101 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
He who pays the obligatory alms-tax at the end of Ramazan, Allah uses it to make up for any deficit in the alms-tax paid on his wealth.
Wasael al-Shi`aah, v. 6, p. 220, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 101 link
Giving the alms-tax at the end of the month of Ramazan constitutes fasting just as sending blessings on the Prophet (SAWA) at the end of the prayer completes and constitutes the prayer. Verily the one who fasts and yet intentionally does not pay the alms-tax due, his fasting is invalid.
al-Faqih, v. 2, p. 183,no. 2085; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 101 link
Allah exalted be His remembrance has not obligated anything more difficult for this community than paying the alms-tax, and the downfall of the majority of people lies in [their failure to pay] it.
Amali al-Tusi, p. 693, no. 1474; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 97 link
The prayer of one who does not give the alms-tax is void, and the alms-tax of the impious is void.
Mishkat al-Anwar, no. 46; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 97 link
The alms-tax has been prescribed as a test for the rich and an aid to the poor. If people duly paid the alms-tax on their wealth, there would not remain a single poor or needy Muslim, and all would suffice themselves through what Allah has prescribed. Verily people are only impoverished, needy, hungry and naked as a result of the sins of the wealthy.
al-Faqih, v. 2, p. 7, no. 1579; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 97 link
If you want Allah to enrich your wealth then give the alms-tax from it.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 96, p. 23, no. 54; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 98 link
Strengthen your capital by paying the alms-tax
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 60, no. 138; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 98 link
The giving of the alms-tax never diminishes wealth.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 96, p. 23, no. 56; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 98 link
We found the following written in the book of the Prophet (SAWA): When the alms-tax is withheld, the earth withholds all its yield of plants, fruits and minerals.
al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 374, no. 2; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 98 link
Verily Allah has fixed the alms-tax as a provision for the poor and a proliferation of your wealth.
al-Kafi, v. 3, p. 498, no. 6; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 98 link
Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida [a] said
When the alms-tax is not paid, livestock die as a result.'
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 73, p. 373, no. 8; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 98 link
He who refuses to pay the alms-tax, on the Day of Resurrection Allah will transform his wealth into a cobra with two venom glands that will coil itself around him and be told, 'Tighten your grip on him just as he was tight-fisted with you in the world.' This is in accordance with Allah's verse in the Qur'an: "They will be collared with what they grudge " Qur'an 3:180
Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 99 link
Those who refuse to pay the alms-tax ask to be returned to the world at the time of death, as per Allah's verse in the Qur'an: "When death comes to one of them, he says, 'My Lord! Take me back, that I may act righteously in what I have left behind" Qur'an 23:99
Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 99 link
There are three types of people that are considered thieves: the one who refuses to pay the alms-tax, the one who spends his wife's dowry unlawfully, and the one who takes a loan with no intention to repay it.
Bihar al-Anwar, p. 12, no. 15; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 99 link
He who refuses to pay [as meagre an amount as] a sixteen of a dirham in alms-tax may as well die a Jew or a Christian.
Sawab al-A`amal, p. 281, no. 7; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 99 link
with regards to Allah's verse in the Qur'an: "Charities are only for the poor...", said, 'The poor man is he who does not beg from people [despite his poverty], the destitute lives in even harsher conditions than him, and the wretched one lives in the most straitened circumstances of all.'
al-Kafi, v. 3, p. 501, no. 16; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 99 link
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