Absolute Justice, Kindness and Kinship — Page 332
Covenants, their Different Categories, Punishments and Rewards 325 begging for Zakat. The emissary reported this matter to the Holy Prophet sa. He declared that from now on none would ever ask him to pay his share of Zakat. Later on, when the man heard of this he began to repent and came to beg pardon from the Holy Prophet sa and promised to give his entire share. The Holy Prophet sa rejected this offer and told him that nothing would be accepted from him in future. It is reported that in the remaining years till the demise of the Holy Prophet sa , that unfortunate man tried every year for his share to be accepted as Zakat but was refused by the Holy Prophet sa. He lived long enough to do the same during the caliphate of Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra and that of Hadrat ‘Umar ra , but they both refused by saying that who were they to alter the decision of the Holy Prophet sa. It is reported that his share of Zakat grew so much that the entire valley which he possessed was filled with Zakat animals from one end to the other, but thereafter Zakat was never accepted from him. 47 How can others know that there are some people who even try to deceive God? Yes, occasionally the others also learn about the attempted deception of hypocritical people. It is, however, possible that such hypocrites may succeed in deceiving the people while making tall claims of their purported financial sacrifice for the sake of God. This deception lasts only as long as God does not reveal their secrets.