The Fourth Major Sin: Not Paying Zakat

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

(In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)

Allah Most High says:

Let not those who are miserly with what Allah has given them from Allah's bounty suppose that it is better for them. On the contrary, it is worse for them! The things with which they were so miserly will be bound around their necks on the Day of Resurrection. (Al-Qur'an: Al-Imran 3:180)

 

Woe to the Musyrikin (polytheist) who do not pay Zakat! (Al-Quran: Fussilat 41:6-7)

Then give them (those who hoard gold and silver, and do not spend them for the sake of Allah) "good tidings" of a painful punishment, a day when it (their hoarded wealth) will be heated in Hell-Fire, and then their foreheads, their sides, and their backs will be branded with it. (And it will be said to them): "This is what you hoarded up for yourselves, so taste whatever you use to hoard!" (Al-Quran: At-Taubah 9:34-35)

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger as saying:

"If any possessor of gold or silver does not pay what is due on it (of Zakat), when the Day of Resurrection come, plates of fire will be beaten out for him; they will be heated in the Hell-Fire, and his forehead, sides and back will be cauterised with them. Each time they are cooled off, they will be returned to him, during a day whose length will be fifty thousand year, until Allah's judgement is pronounced upon mankind and he sees whether his path takes him to the Garden or to the Fire.

He was asked: "Messenger of Allah, what about camels?" He replied: "If any owner of camels does not pay whatever (Zakat) is due on them, when the Day of Resurrection comes, a soft, sandy plain will be spread out for them, as smooth as can be; and he will find that not a single young camel is missing, and they will trample him with their hoofs and bite them with their mouths. As often as the first of them passes him, the last of them will be brought back to him, during a day whose length will be fifty thousand years, until Allah's judgement is passed upojn mankind and he sees whether his path takes him to the Garden or to the Fire."

He was asked: "Messenger of Allah, what about cattle and sheep?" He replied: "If any owner of cattle or sheep does not pay whatever is due on them, when the Day of Resurrection comes, a soft, sandy plain will be spread out for them; and he will find none of them missing, (either) with twisted horns, without horns, or with a broken horns, and they will gore him with their horns and trample them with their hoofs. As often as the first of them passes him, the last of them will be brought back to him during a day whose length will be fifty thousand years, until Allah's Judgement is pronounced upon mankind and he sees whether his path takes him to the Garden or to the Fire." (Muslim)

Allah's Messenger said:

"Three kinds of people will enter the Fire, first; a ruler who sets himself up as lord over people; a man rich in property who does not pay the right of Allah (that is, Zakat) from his property; and a vainglorious poor person (referring to one who deprives his family of their share from the public treasury - that is of Zakat of Sadaqah - because of false dignity or false pride, although he qualifies to receive help from this source)."

Ibn 'Abbas said:

"A person who has enough means to be able to make Hajj to Allah's House but he does not perform the Hajj, or who meets the requirements for paying the Zakat but he does not pay it, will ask, at the time of his death, to be returned to his life." (At that), a man told him: "Fear Allah, Ibn 'Abbas! Only the unbelievers will ask to be returned (to life)." Ibn 'Abbas replied: "Let me recite to you this from the Al-Qur'an. Allah Most High says: "And spend from whatever we have provided for you, before death comes to one of you and then he says: "My Lord, if You woul delay death for me for a short while, I would act charitably and be among the righteous." (Al-Qur'an: Al-Munafiqoon 63:10) 'Act charitably' here means paying the Zakat or performing the Hajj."

Ibn 'Abbas was asked about the obligation of Zakat, and he replied: "When the property of a person reaches two hundred (Dirhams), paying Zakat on it becomes obligatory." He was asked about the obligation of Hajj and he replied: "It becomes obligatory when one has the necessary provisions and the mount (that is, the animal to ride upon)."

No Zakat is to be paid on jewelry which is in used. However, if it is stored or rented out, Zakat is due on it. There detailed rules concerning the rate of Zakat due on camels, cattle and sheep, stock-in-trade, agricultural land which is irrigated and which is non-irrigated, and one should consult books of Islamic Jurisprudence concerning these.

Abu Mas'ood in explaining the verses of Al-Qur'an: Al-Taubah 9:34-35 which have been quoted above says: "On the Day of Resurrection, one Dinar will not be placed on top of another Dinar, nor a Dirham on top of another Dirham; rather a person's skin will be stretched so much that every Dinar and Dirham (on which he did not pay Zakat, although he was obliged to do so) will touch his skin and its heat will be felt."

If it is asked: "Why have the forehead, the sides and the back been singled out (for mention in this verse)?" the answer is: "When a miserly rich person sees a poor person approaching him, he frowns wrinkles on his forehead, and turns his sides (to him), and when the poor person comes close to him, he turns away, showing him his back. That is why these parts of the body are mentioned in those verses."

Allah's Messenger said:

"Five for five." When they asked: "What does 'five for five' means?", he replied: "When a nation breaks its agreement, Allah gives its enemy power over it; when people judge by criteria other than what Allah has revealed, poverty spreads among them; when lewdness appears among people, death spreads among them; when they give short measure and weight, they struck with famine and shortages of vegetation; and when they do not pay Zakat, rain is withheld from them."

A story. Muhammad bin Yusuf Faryabi said: "Once I went to visit Abi Sinan together with some friends. We went into his house and sat with him for a while. Then he stood up and said: "Let us go and pay our condolences to our neighbour whose brother has passed away." So we stood up and went with him to the neighbour's house, and we found him weeping bitterly and lamenting for his brother. We offered words of solace and condolence, but he would accept none of them. We said: "Do you not know that everyone must die?" He said: "Yes, but I am weeping for the punishment which my brother is going through morning and evening." We said to him: "Has Allah informed you about the Unsees?" He said: "No. But when I buried him and smoothed the earth on his grave and the people left, I sat by his grave. A voice came from his grave, saying: 'Oh, the punishment which is upon me! I used to pray and I used to fast!' At that, I became aggitated and opened the grave to see what was happening. I saw that the grave was full of fire, and there was a ring of fire around his neck. Full of pity for him. I stretched out my hand to take off this ring, but my hand and fingers for burned." Then he showed us his hand, which was burned. He continued: "I then covered his grave with earth and left. So how can I help weeping and mourning for him?" We asked: "What was it your brother did wrong in this world?" He replied: "He never paid any Zakat from his property." Thereupon we recited: "Let not those who are miserly with what Allah has given them of Allah's bounty suppose that it is better for them. On the contrary, it is worse for themm the things with which were so miserly will be bound around their necks on the Day of Resurrection." (Al-Quran: Al-Imran 3:180) and we said to him: "Your brother's punishment has been hastened before the Day of Resurrection." We left him and went to Allah's Messenger's Companions, Abu Dharr, and we told him this story and said: "We see that Jews and Christians die, but we do not observe such a thing as this among them." He said: "As for them, no doubt they are in the Fire, but sometimes Allah shows you something of the believers' punishment in order that you may learn a lesson.

Allah Most High says:

Then whoever sees, it is for his own self. (Al-Qur'an: Al-An'am 6:104)

Your Lord is never unjust to His servants (Al-Qur'an: Fussilat 41:46)

We ask Allah's forgiveness and protection. Indeed, He is the Generous and the Magnanimous!

The Third Major Sin: Pride and Arrogance

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

(In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)

Allah Most High says: 

Moses said: “Indeed, I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every arrogant one who does not believe in a Day of Reckoning.” (Al-Quran: Al-M’umin 40:27)

Allah does not love the arrogant. (Al-Quran: Al-Nahl 16:23)

 

Allah’s Messenger said:

“Allah made the earth swallow up a man who walked with a strut, and he will be tossed about in it with all his pomp until Day of Resurrection.”

Note: This man was Warun (Korah), mentioned in Al-Quran: Al-Qasas 28:76-82)

“The tyrants and the arrogants will be raised on the Day of Resurrection as lowly and abased as specks of dirt, trampled by people.”

Some scholars of earlier times have said that the first sin committer against Allah was pride. Allah Most High says:

And when Allah said to the angels: “Prostrate to Adam,” they all prostrated, except Iblis. He refused and was proud, and so he became one of those who deny Allah’s authority. (Al-Quran: Al-Baqarah 2:34)

Therefore, if anyone shows pride in front of Allah, like Iblis, his faith and deeds will not benefit him.

Allah’s Messenger said: 

“The one who has a grain of pride in his heart will not enter the Garden.” (Muslim)

Allah Most High says:

Truly, Allah does not love any arrogant boaster. (Al-Quran: Luqman 31:18)

 

Allah’s Messenger said:

 

“Allah says: “Greatness is My garment and majestic pride is My cloak. If anyone competes with Me for them, I will throw him into the Fire.” “ (Muslim)

“The Garden and the Fire had an argument. The Garden said: “What is wrong with me that no one enters me except the weak among the people and their discarded ones?” The Fire said: “I prefer the tyrants and the arrogants.”

Allah Most High says:

Do not turn your cheek to the people in scorn, nor walk upon earth insolently. Truly, Allah does not love any arrogant boaster. (Al-Quran: Luqman 31:18)

Salama bin Akwa’ said:

“A man ate with his left hand in the company of Allah’s Messenger. Allah’s Messenger told him: “Eat with your right hand.” He replied: “I cannot.” Allah’s Messenger said: “Then may you not!” What prevented him from listening to Allah’s Messenger was his pride. After that, he was unable to raise his right hand to his mouth.” (Muslim)

Allah’s Messenger said:

“Shall I inform you about the inhabitants of the Fire? Every cruel, rough, proud person!”

Ibn ‘Umar reported Allah’s Messenger as saying:

“Any man who walks haughtily and considers himself great will not meet Allah without Allah being angry with him.”

Abu Hurairah reported Allah’s Messenger as saying:

“Three kinds of people will enter the Fire first: A ruler who sets himself up as a lord over people; a man rich in property who does not pay the right of Allah (Zakat) from his property; and a vainglorious poor person (who deprives his family of their share from the public treasury because of his false dignity and false pride).”

Allah’s Messenger also said:

“On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not look at three kinds of people; One who trails his clothes out of pride; one who recounts his favours to others in public; and one who sells his merchandise backed by false oaths.” (Bukhari)

The worst kind of pride is that of a learned person who considers himself great among people because of his knowledge. But his knowledge is of no benefit to him, because the one who seeks knowledge for the sake of the Hereafter is humble among people and his heart is full of fear of Allah. If his ego sometimes feels pride, he immediately checks it and reprimands it. Otherwise, he would stray from right conduct and would perish.

Anyone who seeks knowledge for the sake of gaining fame and fortune, and showing-off among the Muslims, is guilty of the worst of sins. No one will enter the Garden who has an atom’s weight of pride in his heart. There is no  might and no power except in Allah, the Most High, the Almighty!

 

The Second Major Sin: Not Praying

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم بِسْمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Allah Most High says:

Then there succeeded them a generation which neglected prayers and followed lusts. They will meet destruction, excepting the one who repents and believes and acts righteously. (Al-Quran: Maryam 19:59-60)

Ibn 'Abbas explained that "neglected" here does not mean that they completely abandoned prayers, but that they delayed them to the end of their prescribed times.

Sa'id bin Musayyab, a great imam following the generation of the Companions, elaborated on this, saying:

"A person neglects prayers if he delays the noon prayer time, sunset prayer up to evening prayer time, and evening prayer up to morning prayer time. If someone dies without repentance while continuing in this manner, Allah سبهانه و تعالى, Allah سبهانه و تعالى  has promised destruction for him, and that is a valley in Hell which is very deep and has foul food."

Allah Most High says:

  

Woe to the worshippers who are unmindful of their prayer. (Al-Quran: Al-Ma'un 107:4-5)

S'ad bin Abi Waqqas said:

"I asked Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم about the meaning of "unmindful", and he replied: "It is delaying it (the prayer) up to the end of its prescribed time." 

While Allah سبهانه و تعالى calls such people "worshippers", they are lazy and perform the prayer very late. He has promised them "woe", which signifies a great punishment. Some say, "woe" is a valley in Hell, exceedingly hot, and that is the place for those who delay or miss the prayer, excepting the ones who repent and correct their habits.

Allah Most High says:

O you who believe, let neither your wealth nor your children distract you from the remembrance of Allah سبهانه و تعالى. And those who do so, they will be the losers. (Al-Quran: Al-Munafiqoon 63:9)

The "remembrance of Allah سبهانه و تعالى" in this verse means the five daily prayers. If anyone is so busy in buying and selling, or with his daily work of earning a livelihood, or with his children, that he cannot perform prayers on time, he will be among the losers.

Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said in this regard:

"The first thing which will be judged among a person's deeds on the Day of Resurrection is the prayer. If that is in good order, he will pass the test and prosper, and if that is defective, he will fail the test and will be a loser." (Tirmidhi)

Informing us about the inhabitants of Hell, Allah Most High says:

"(The people in the Hell will be asked): "What caused you to enter Hell-Fire?" They will say: "We were not among those who prayed, nor did we feed the needy. We used to engage in vain discourse with the vain-talkers, and we used to deny the Day of Judgement, until there came to us that which is certain (i.e Allah سبهانه و تعالى Judgement)." Then, no intercession by any intercessors will benefit them." (Al-Quran: Al-Muddathir 74: 42-48)

Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

"The covenant between us and them (that is, believers) is prayer, so if anyone abandons it he has become an infidel." (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood, Nisai, Tirmidhi).

"What lies between a man and infidelity is the abandonment of prayer." (Muslim)

"If anyone abandons the afternoon prayer, his deeds are of no avail." (Bukhari)

"If anyone abandons prayer deliberately he has no claim upon Allah سبهانه و تعالى." (Sunan)

 "I have been ordered to fight with men until they testify that there is no god but Allah سبهانه و تعالى and that Muhammad is Allah's سبهانه و تعالى Messenger, observe the prayer and pay the Zakat. When they do that they will keep their lives and their properties safe from me, except for what is due to Islam; and their reckoning will be at Allah's سبهانه و تعالى Hands." (Bukhari and Muslim)

'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin al-'As said that Allah's Messenger  صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned prayer one day saying:

"If anyone keeps to it, it will be light, evidence, and salvation for him on the Day of Resurrection; but if anyone does not keep to it, it will not be for him light, evidence, or salvation; and on the Day of Resurrection, he will be associated with Qarun, Pharaoh, Haman, and Ubayy bin Khalaf (a great enemy of Islam from among the Quraish)." (Ahmad, Darimi, Baihaqi)

The person who abandons prayer will be raised with such a foursome because his neglect of prayer may be due to his involvement with his property, his country, his administrative work, or his trade. Therefore, if he was involved with his property, he will be resurrected with Qarun, ; if with his country, then with Pharaoh; if with his administrative work, then with Haman; and if with his trade, then with Ubayy bin Khalaf, the trader among the unbelievers of Mecca.

Mu'adh bin Jabal reported  Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

"If anyone abandons prayer intentionally he has no claim to Allah Most High." (Ahmad)

'Umar ibn al-Khattab reported that a man asked Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم:

"What is dearest to Allah Most High?" He replied: "Prayer at its proper time. The one who does not pray has no religion. Prayer is the main pillar of the religion of Islam." (Baihaqi)

After 'Umar ibn al-Khattab has been stabbed, it was said to him, "As-salat, ya amir ul-mumineen, Leader of the Believers!" He said: "Yes, truly! If anyone misses the prayer he has no share in Islam," and thereupon he prayed while his wounds were bleeding. 


'Abdullah bin Shaqiq said that the Companions of Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم did not consider the abandonment of any good deeds to be unbelief excepting the abandonment of prayer.

When 'Ali was asked about a woman who did not pray, he replied:

"The one who does not pray is unbeliever."

Ibn Mas'ood said that the one who does not pray has no religion and Ibn 'Abbas said:
.

"The one who leaves off a single prayer deliberately will find, when he meets Allah Most High, that Allah سبهانه و تعالى is angry with him."

Allah's Messenger صلي الله عليه وسلم  said:

"When a person meets Allah سبهانه و تعالى after neglecting his prayer, he will meet him as if he had not worshipped him at all, nor done any good deeds."

Ibn Hazm said:

"There is no greater sin after polytheism than missing prayer (Note 1) and killing a believer without a just cause."

Note 1: That is to say, if one deliberately delays a prayer until its time has passed, although he was able to pray it on time, without any valid reason which permits delaying it before its time.

Ibrahim Nakha said: 

"The one who has left off the prayer has become a disbeliever."

'Awn bin 'Abdullah said:

"When a person is buried, the first question which will be asked him will be concerning the prayer. If that is accepted from him, his other deeds will be looked at, but if that is not accepted from him, no other deeds will be looked at."

Allah's Messenger صلي الله عليه وسلم said: 

" When a person performs a prayer during the early part of its prescribed time period, his prayer ascends toward Heaven as a light until it reaches the Throne, and there it asks forgiveness for that person until the Day of Resurrection, saying, "O Allah, preserve him as he preserved me!" But when a person performs a prayer outside its time period, it ascends toward Heaven covered with darkness. When it reaches there, it is folded up as a garment is folded and thrown back at his face, and it says, "May Allah waste you as you wasted me." "

'Abdullah bin al-'As reported Allah's Messenger صلي الله عليه وسلم as saying:

"There are three (kinds of people) whose prayer Allah سبهانه و تعالى will not accept: a leader who is hated by his nation; a master who oppresses his slave after making a contract with him to set him free; and a person who observes a prayer after its proper time." (Abu Dawood)

"A person who combines two prayers without excuse, enters a gate among the major sins."

We seek Allah سبهانه و تعالى guidance and help, for indeed Allah سبهانه و تعالى is the Generous, the Magnanimous, and the Most Merciful of all merciful ones!

The Greatest of All Major Sins : Associating Anything With Allah سبهانه و تعالى (Shirk)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم بِسْمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The GREATEST of all MAJOR SINS is SHIRK - that is to say associating ANYONE or ANYTHING with Allah Most High, and it is of two kinds.

The first is to believe that Allah سبهانه و تعالى has an equal or to worship something or someone other than Him , such as a stone, a tree, a star, the sun, the moon, or a prophet, a saint, or an angel. This is the greatest Shirk, about which Allah Most High says:

Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating anything with Him, and He forgives whatever is other than that to whomever He wills. (Al-Quran: Al-Nisa 4:48 and 116)

Indeed, associating (anything with Allah) is a great wrong. (Al-Quran: Luqman 31:13)

Indeed, the one who associates anything with Allah, Allah will forbid him the Garden, and his abode is the Fire. (Al-Quran: Al-Maidah 5:75) 

Note: The number of verses containing the word "shirk" and its derivatives is approximately 165, and there are many other verses of similar meaning.

Whoever ascribes partners to Allah سبهانه و تعالى (Shirk) and dies a polytheist (Mushrik) is definitely an inhabitant of the Fire, just as anyone who believes in Allah and dies a believer is an inhabitant of the Garden, even though he may be punished in the Fire first.

Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم asked his Companions:

"Shall I not inform you about the three greatest sins? They said: "Yes, Messenger of Allah." He the continued: "Associating other objects of worship with Allah, disobedience to parents..." Thereupon he sat up from the reclining position and the continued: "...and lying under oath (deliberate perjury) and hearing false witness." (Bukhari and Muslim).

The second kind of associating anything with Allah سبهانه و تعالى is insincerity and ostentation of one's deeds, as stated by Allah Most High:

Anyone who is expecting to meet His Lord should act righteously and not make anything as a sharer in the worship of His Lord. (Al-Quran: Al-Kahf 18:110)

This is to say, in all one's deeds, one ought not to act for the sake of ostentation but sincerely, for the sake of Allah سبهانه و تعالى alone. 

 

Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

"I warn you against the Lesser Polytheism." The Companions asked: "What is Lesser Polytheism, Messenger of Allah?" He replied: "Showing-off. On the Day when Allah Most High will reward people for their deeds, He will tell them, 'Go to those people for whose attention and praise you did these deeds and see whether they will reward you." (Muslim and Ahmad)

"Allah says 'If anyone does anything in which he associates anything with Me, his actions belongs to the one for whose sake he did it and I am clear of it.' " (Muslim) 

 "If anyone causes his deeds to be heard of Allah will make him heard of, and if anyone makes a hypocritical display Allah will make a display of him." (Muslim)

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

"Many a one who fasts gets nothing from his fasting but hunger and thirst, and many a one who prays during the night gets nothing from his night prayers but wakefulness."

Meaning that if prayers and fasting are not purely for the sake of Allah Most High, there is no reward for them. (Ibn Majah, Ahmad and Tabarani)

Again, it is reported that Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

"A person who does something for the sake of show and reputation is like a person who fills up his purse with pebbles and goes to the market to buy something, but when he offers them to the seller, the seller throws them in his face. Thus, there is no benefit to him from his purse excepts for people's saying that is purse is full, but he cannot buy anything. Similarly, a person who does something for the sake of show and reputation gets nothing but praise from the people but no reward in the Next."

Ibn Hajar says in Al-Zawajir that this is not a tradition of  Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم but a saying of some scholars.

Allah Most High says:

We shall turn toward whatever deed they did and make them into scattered particles of floating dust. (Al-Quran: Al-Furqan 25:23) 

This means that the works which they did for the pleasure of anyone other than Allah Most High will receive no reward and will become like the scattered particles of dust which are seen floating in the sun's rays. 

'Adi ibn Hatim reported Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم as saying:

"On the Day of Resurrection, groups of people will be led toward the Garden until they hears its humming, smells its fragrance, see its places and whatever Allah has prepared for the inhabitants. Then a call will be made to turn them away from it, since they have no portion of in it. Then they will turn away with regret and longing for it, like other groups of people before and after them. They will say, " Our Lord! If you had admitted us to the Fire before showing us what we have seen of the reward you have prepared for your friends, it would be easier for us." Then Allah Most High will say, "That is what I intended for you. In privacy you were arrogant toward Me, but when you were among people you were humble toward them, showing them your good deeds, the opposite of what you gave to Me in your hearts. You gave to the people and not Me; you showed veneration toward people but not toward Me; your renunciation was for people but not for Me. Therefore, today I am making you taste My grievous punishment and withholding from you My abundant reward." " (Tabarani, Abu Na'im, Baihaqi)

A person asked Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم about salvation. 

He replied: "Do not deceive Allah." The person asked: "How can one deceive Allah?" He replied: "You do a deed ordered by Allah and His Messenger, but intent to obtain the pleasure of someone other than Allah. Guard yourself against showing-off, because that is a form of lesser polytheism. On the Day of Resurrection, the show-off will be called, above the heads of the people, by four names: "Show off! Deceitful One! Godless One! Loser! Your deeds are wasted and your reward is cancelled. Since We do not have any reward for you, go an collect your reward from the one for whose sake you did these deeds, Pretender!" (Ibn Abu Dunya)

A scholar was asked: "Who is sincere toward Allah سبهانه و تعالى?" and he replied: "That person is sincere who conceals his good deeds in the same way as he conceals his bad deeds." Another scholar explained that the purpose of sincerity toward Allah سبهانه و تعالى is so that person may not start liking praise from people.

Fudail bin 'Iyyad said: "To refrain from doing something for the sake of people is Riya' (hyprocrisy) and to do something for their approval is polytheism, while sincerity is to ask protection against both from Allah سبهانه و تعالى. O Allah! Protect us from these two and forgive us!