THE PUNISHMENT FOR NOT GIVING ZAKAAT.
Allah Ta'ala says in the Qur'an :
"And there are those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah, announce to them a most grievous penalty (when) on the Day of Qiyaamah heat will be produced out of that wealth in the fire of Jahannam, then with it they will be branded on their foreheads and their flanks and backs. (It will be said to them) This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves, taste then the treasure that you had been hoarding." Surah Taubah: 34.
It is important that you find out what the Nisaab is in your locality to enable you know if the obligation falls on you. I have compiled above only the aspects of Zakaat that are applicable to the majority of people. Of course, there are other important aspects that are important to be learned, e.g. methods of adminstering Zakaat on Livestocks, but of course these aspects have specific applications and those concerned should seek knowledge of this- Form 2 below provides a good guid to assessing this as well. To facilitate easy individual Zakaat calculation, any of the two forms may be used:
*Please use Form 1 unless you have more that the items it contains, in which case you should use Form 2 which is more comprehensive.
Please rememebr that Zakaat is not a tax, a levy or a gift; money due as Zakaat is NOT your money per se- rather it is the poor's due that Allah (SWT) has put in your custody, and it is OBLIGATORY (like solat!) that you give it to them in proper amount- as their right. That means Zakaat must be administered according to its rules, not whatever you feel like giving. Do not allow greed to prevent you from using ordinary N25.00 (or equivalent) to cleanse N1000.00 (or equivalent) from your total wealth over a whole 1 year period (thus debarring the growth of your own wealth!) If all the eligible Muslims in Nigeria receive their due from all Zakaat-qualified Nigerian payers not just in Ramadan as is the common practise, but every month of the year as Allah Wills, grinding poverty will simply diminish to the barest minimum amongst our Muslim population. Allah Knows best. Allah has warned those who do not give Zakaat that they will face dire consequence. He says, "O you who believe! Verily, there are many of the rabbis and the monks who devour the wealth of mankind in falsehood, and hinder (them) from the way of Allah. And those who hoard up gold and silver, and spend it not in the Way of Allah-announce unto them a painful torment (Qur'an 9:34).
