What happens if I don't pay zakat?

The short answer

Zakat is a pillar of Islam, and withholding it is a grave sin. The Quran and sahih hadith describe hoarded, unpurified wealth being turned into a punishment for its owner on the Day of Resurrection. If you have missed zakat, repent and pay what you owe for the past years as best you can calculate it.

Explanation

Zakat is not an optional extra. Islam is built on five pillars, and zakat is the third 1. When the Quran warns the idolaters of "woe", it describes them as "those who do not give zakah" 2.

The warnings are vivid. "Those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah" are promised a painful punishment, when that wealth is heated in Hell and pressed against "their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs" 3. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay its zakat will find his wealth turned into a bald, venomous snake coiled around his neck, saying, "I am your wealth, I am your treasure", and then he recited the verse about those who withhold (3:180) 4. Another hadith describes plates of fire for the owner of gold and silver who does not pay what is due on it 5.

Ibn Umar (RA) explained that the hoarding condemned here is wealth whose zakat has not been paid, and that zakat was made "a purifier of the property" 6. So paying zakat is exactly what protects you from these warnings.

The Companions took it so seriously that Abu Bakr (RA), after the Prophet's death, resolved to fight those who "differentiate between the prayer and the Zakat", and Umar (RA) came to agree 7.

If you have missed zakat:

  • Repent sincerely to Allah.
  • Estimate your zakatable wealth for each missed year as honestly as you can, and pay what is owed.
  • Set a fixed annual zakat date so it never slips again.

Remember what zakat does for you: Allah says it purifies you and "causes increase" 8.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 8
    Sahih Bukhari

    Paying zakat is one of the five principles on which Islam is built.

    Narrated Ibn 'Umar: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles): 1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). 2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly. 3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity) . 4. To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca) 5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُوسَى، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا حَنْظَلَةُ بْنُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ بُنِيَ الإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَالْحَجِّ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ ‏"‏‏.‏

  2. 2
    Quran Fussilat · 41:6–7

    Woe to the idolaters, described as "those who do not give zakah".

    قُلۡ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرࣱ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَٰهُكُمۡ إِلَٰهࣱ وَٰحِدࣱ فَٱسۡتَقِيمُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرُوهُۗ وَوَيۡلࣱ لِّلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ ۝٦ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُم بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ هُمۡ كَٰفِرُونَ ۝٧

    6 Say, O [Muhammad], "I am only a man like you to whom it has been revealed that your god is but one God; so take a straight course to Him and seek His forgiveness." And woe to those who associate others with Allah 7 Those who do not give zakah, and in the Hereafter they are disbelievers

  3. 3
    Quran At-Tawba · 9:34–35

    Hoarded gold and silver not spent in Allah's way will be heated and used to brand their owners.

    ۞يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّ كَثِيرࣰ ا مِّنَ ٱلۡأَحۡبَارِ وَٱلرُّهۡبَانِ لَيَأۡكُلُونَ أَمۡوَٰلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡبَٰطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَكۡنِزُونَ ٱلذَّهَبَ وَٱلۡفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَبَشِّرۡهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمࣲ‏ ۝٣٤ يَوۡمَ يُحۡمَىٰ عَلَيۡهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكۡوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمۡ وَجُنُوبُهُمۡ وَظُهُورُهُمۡۖ هَٰذَا مَا كَنَزۡتُمۡ لِأَنفُسِكُمۡ فَذُوقُواْ مَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡنِزُونَ ۝٣٥

    34 O you who have believed, indeed many of the scholars and the monks devour the wealth of people unjustly and avert [them] from the way of Allah. And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah - give them tidings of a painful punishment 35 The Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell and seared therewith will be their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, [it will be said], "This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard

  4. 4
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1403
    Sahih Bukhari

    Wealth on which zakat was not paid will become a venomous snake around its owner's neck.

    Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay the Zakat of his wealth, then on the Day of Resurrection his wealth will be made like a baldheaded poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say, 'I am your wealth, I am your treasure.' " Then the Prophet (ﷺ) recited the holy verses:-- 'Let not those who withhold . . .' (to the end of the verse)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا هَاشِمُ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ السَّمَّانِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مَنْ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالاً، فَلَمْ يُؤَدِّ زَكَاتَهُ مُثِّلَ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شُجَاعًا أَقْرَعَ، لَهُ زَبِيبَتَانِ، يُطَوَّقُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ بِلِهْزِمَتَيْهِ ـ يَعْنِي شِدْقَيْهِ ـ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ أَنَا مَالُكَ، أَنَا كَنْزُكَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ تَلاَ ‏{‏لاَ يَحْسِبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ‏}‏ الآيَةَ‏.‏

  5. 5
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 987
    Sahih Muslim

    Plates of fire for the owner of gold or silver who does not pay what is due on it.

    Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (way peace be upon him) as saying:If any owner of gold or silver does not pay what is due on him, when the Day of Resurrection would come, plates of fire would be beaten out for him; these would then be heated in the fire of Hell and his sides, his forehead and his back would be cauterized with them. Whenever these cool down, (the process is) repeated during a day the extent of which would be fifty thousand years, until judgment is pronounced among servants, and he sees whether his path is to take him to Paradise or to Hell. It was said: Messenger of Allah, what about the camel? He (the Holy Prophet) said: If any owner of the camel does not pay what is due on him, and of his due in that (camel) is (also) to milk it on the day when it comes down to water. When the Day of Resurrection comes a soft sandy plain would be set for him, as extensive as possible, (he will find) that not a single young one is missing, and they will trample him with their hoofs and bite him with their mouths. As often as the first of them passes him, the last of them would be made to return during a day the extent of which would be fifty thousand years, until judgment is pronounced among servants and he sees whether his path is to take him to Paradise or to Hell. It was (again) said: Messenger of Allah, what about cows (cattle) and sheep? He said: It any owner of the cattle and sheep does not pay what is due on them, when the Day of Resurrection comes a soft sandy plain would be spread for them, he will find none of them missing, with twisted horns, without horns or with a broken horn, and they will gore him with their horns and trample him with their hoofs. As often as the first of them passes him the last of them would be made to return to him during a day the extent of which would be fifty thousand years, until judgment would be pronounced among the servants. And he would be shown his path-path leading him to Paradise or to Hell. It was said: Messenger of Allah, what about the horse? Upon this he said: The horses are of three types. To one than (these are) a burden, and to another man (these are) a covering, and still to another man (these are) a source of reward. The one for whom these are a burden is the person who rears them in order to show off, for vainglory and for opposing the Muslims; so they are a burden for him. The one for whom these are a covering is the person who rears them for the sake of Allah but does not forget the right of Allah concerning their backs and their necks, and so they are a covering for him. As for those which bring reward (these refer to) the person who rears them for the sake of Allah to be used for Muslims and he puts them in meadow and field. And whatever thing do these eat from that meadow and field would be recorded on his behalf as good deeds, as would also the amount of their dung and urine. And these would not break their halter and prance a course or two without having got recorded the amount of their hoof marks and their dung as a good deed on his behalf (on behalf of their owner). And their master does not bring them past a river from which they drink, though he did not intend to quench their thirst, but Allah would record for him the amount of what they drink on his behalf as deeds. It was said: Messenger of Allah, what about the asses?, Upon this he said: Nothing has been revealed to me in regard to the asses (in particular) except this one verse of a comprehensive nature:" He who does an atom's weight of good will see it, and he who does an atom's weight of evil will see it" (xcix)

    العربية

    وَحَدَّثَنِي سُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ مَيْسَرَةَ الصَّنْعَانِيَّ - عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، أَنَّ أَبَا صَالِحٍ، ذَكْوَانَ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مَا مِنْ صَاحِبِ ذَهَبٍ وَلاَ فِضَّةٍ لاَ يُؤَدِّي مِنْهَا حَقَّهَا إِلاَّ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ صُفِّحَتْ لَهُ صَفَائِحَ مِنْ نَارٍ فَأُحْمِيَ عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَيُكْوَى بِهَا جَنْبُهُ وَجَبِينُهُ وَظَهْرُهُ كُلَّمَا بَرَدَتْ أُعِيدَتْ لَهُ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ حَتَّى يُقْضَى بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ فَيُرَى سَبِيلُهُ إِمَّا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَإِمَّا إِلَى النَّارِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَالإِبِلُ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَلاَ صَاحِبُ إِبِلٍ لاَ يُؤَدِّي مِنْهَا حَقَّهَا وَمِنْ حَقِّهَا حَلَبُهَا يَوْمَ وِرْدِهَا إِلاَّ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ بُطِحَ لَهَا بِقَاعٍ قَرْقَرٍ أَوْفَرَ مَا كَانَتْ لاَ يَفْقِدُ مِنَهَا فَصِيلاً وَاحِدًا تَطَؤُهُ بِأَخْفَافِهَا وَتَعَضُّهُ بِأَفْوَاهِهَا كُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ أُولاَهَا رُدَّ عَلَيْهِ أُخْرَاهَا فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ حَتَّى يُقْضَى بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ فَيُرَى سَبِيلُهُ إِمَّا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَإِمَّا إِلَى النَّارِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَالْبَقَرُ وَالْغَنَمُ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَلاَ صَاحِبُ بَقَرٍ وَلاَ غَنَمٍ لاَ يُؤَدِّي مِنْهَا حَقَّهَا إِلاَّ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ بُطِحَ لَهَا بِقَاعٍ قَرْقَرٍ لاَ يَفْقِدُ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا لَيْسَ فِيهَا عَقْصَاءُ وَلاَ جَلْحَاءُ وَلاَ عَضْبَاءُ تَنْطِحُهُ بِقُرُونِهَا وَتَطَؤُهُ بِأَظْلاَفِهَا كُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ أُولاَهَا رُدَّ عَلَيْهِ أُخْرَاهَا فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ حَتَّى يُقْضَى بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ فَيُرَى سَبِيلُهُ إِمَّا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَإِمَّا إِلَى النَّارِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَالْخَيْلُ قَالَ ‏"‏ الْخَيْلُ ثَلاَثَةٌ هِيَ لِرَجُلٍ وِزْرٌ وَهِيَ لِرَجُلٍ سِتْرٌ وَهِيَ لِرَجُلٍ أَجْرٌ فَأَمَّا الَّتِي هِيَ لَهُ وِزْرٌ فَرَجُلٌ رَبَطَهَا رِيَاءً وَفَخْرًا وَنِوَاءً عَلَى أَهْلِ الإِسْلاَمِ فَهِيَ لَهُ وِزْرٌ وَأَمَّا الَّتِي هِيَ لَهُ سِتْرٌ فَرَجُلٌ رَبَطَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْسَ حَقَّ اللَّهِ فِي ظُهُورِهَا وَلاَ رِقَابِهَا فَهِيَ لَهُ سِتْرٌ وَأَمَّا الَّتِي هِيَ لَهُ أَجْرٌ فَرَجُلٌ رَبَطَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لأَهْلِ الإِسْلاَمِ فِي مَرْجٍ وَرَوْضَةٍ فَمَا أَكَلَتْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْمَرْجِ أَوِ الرَّوْضَةِ مِنْ شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُ عَدَدَ مَا أَكَلَتْ حَسَنَاتٌ وَكُتِبَ لَهُ عَدَدَ أَرْوَاثِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا حَسَنَاتٌ وَلاَ تَقْطَعُ طِوَلَهَا فَاسْتَنَّتْ شَرَفًا أَوْ شَرَفَيْنِ إِلاَّ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ عَدَدَ آثَارِهَا وَأَرْوَاثِهَا حَسَنَاتٍ وَلاَ مَرَّ بِهَا صَاحِبُهَا عَلَى نَهْرٍ فَشَرِبَتْ مِنْهُ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَسْقِيَهَا إِلاَّ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ عَدَدَ مَا شَرِبَتْ حَسَنَاتٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَالْحُمُرُ قَالَ ‏"‏ مَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ فِي الْحُمُرِ شَىْءٌ إِلاَّ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ الْفَاذَّةُ الْجَامِعَةُ ‏{‏ فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ * وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ‏}‏ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1404
    Sahih Bukhari

    Ibn Umar explained that the condemned hoarding is wealth whose zakat is unpaid, and zakat purifies wealth.

    Narrated Khalid bin Aslam:We went out with 'Abdullah bin 'Umar and a bedouin said (to 'Abdullah), "Tell me about Allah's saying: "And those who hoard up gold and silver (Al-Kanz - money, gold, silver etc., the Zakat of which has not been paid) and spend it not in the Way of Allah (V.9:34)." Ibn 'Umar said, "Whoever hoarded them and did not pay the Zakat thereof, then woe to him. But these holy Verses were revealed before the Verses of Zakat. So when the Verses of Zakat were revealed, Allah made Zakat a purifier of the property

    العربية

    وَقَالَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ شَبِيبِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، قَالَ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ فَقَالَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ أَخْبِرْنِي قَوْلَ اللَّهِ، ‏{‏وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلاَ يُنْفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ‏}‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ مَنْ كَنَزَهَا فَلَمْ يُؤَدِّ زَكَاتَهَا فَوَيْلٌ لَهُ، إِنَّمَا كَانَ هَذَا قَبْلَ أَنْ تُنْزَلَ الزَّكَاةُ فَلَمَّا أُنْزِلَتْ جَعَلَهَا اللَّهُ طُهْرًا لِلأَمْوَالِ‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1399
    Sahih Bukhari

    Abu Bakr resolved to fight those who separated prayer from zakat, and Umar agreed.

    Narrated Abu Huraira:When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) died and Abu Bakr became the caliph some Arabs renegade (reverted to disbelief) (Abu Bakr decided to declare war against them), `Umar, said to Abu Bakr, "How can you fight with these people although Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight the people till they say: "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and whoever said it then he will save his life and property from me except on trespassing the law (rights and conditions for which he will be punished justly), and his accounts will be with Allah.' " Abu Bakr said, "By Allah! I will fight those who differentiate between the prayer and the Zakat as Zakat is the compulsory right to be taken from the property (according to Allah's orders) By Allah! If they refuse to pay me even a she-kid which they used to pay at the time of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . I would fight with them for withholding it" Then `Umar said, "By Allah, it was nothing, but Allah opened Abu Bakr's chest towards the decision (to fight) and I came to know that his decision was right

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ الْحَكَمُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبُ بْنُ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ لَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ وَكَفَرَ مَنْ كَفَرَ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ـ رضى الله عنه كَيْفَ تُقَاتِلُ النَّاسَ، وَقَدْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ‏.‏ فَمَنْ قَالَهَا فَقَدْ عَصَمَ مِنِّي مَالَهُ وَنَفْسَهُ إِلاَّ بِحَقِّهِ، وَحِسَابُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لأُقَاتِلَنَّ مَنْ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَ الصَّلاَةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ، فَإِنَّ الزَّكَاةَ حَقُّ الْمَالِ، وَاللَّهِ لَوْ مَنَعُونِي عَنَاقًا كَانُوا يُؤَدُّونَهَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَقَاتَلْتُهُمْ عَلَى مَنْعِهَا‏.‏ قَالَ عُمَرُ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا هُوَ إِلاَّ أَنْ قَدْ شَرَحَ اللَّهُ صَدْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ‏.‏

  8. 8
    Quran At-Tawba · 9:103

    Zakat purifies its payers and causes increase.

    خُذۡ مِنۡ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ صَدَقَةࣰ تُطَهِّرُهُمۡ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيۡهِمۡۖ إِنَّ صَلَوٰتَكَ سَكَنࣱ لَّهُمۡۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ۝١٠٣

    Take, [O, Muhammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke [Allah 's blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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