The Philosophy of Zakāt — Page 22
THE PH ILOSOPHY OF ZAKAT 22 their backs shall be branded therewith and it shall be said to them: “This is what you treasured up for yourselves; so now taste what you used to treasure up. ’ ( 9:34 - 35 ) In the above verses a warning of punishment in the hereafter has been given. (For a detailed discussion on the state of man in the life hereafter see The Philosophy and Teachings of Islam by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad) A W arning F rom the Holy Prophet, P eace B e O n H im In the Traditions also warning has been given of a dreadful punishment. The Holy Prophet, peace be on him, said, ‘He who has been blessed by Allah with affluence, but does not pay Zak ā t on his assessable assets, shall, on the Day of Resurrection, accost hi s wealth in the shape of a serpent who will catch hold both his jaws and bite him saying “I am your wealth”‘ and then the Holy Prophet recited this verse: ‘And let not those who are niggardly … on the Day of Resurrection. ’ (3:181) It is mentioned in another Tradition that the Holy Prophet saw two women wearing bangles of gold on their hands and he asked them whether they paid Zak ā t on them. They both replied in the negative. He then said, ‘Do you wish that you be wearing bangles of fire instead of these?’ They said, ‘No. ’ He then said that they should pay Zak ā t for them (Tirmidhi). In another Tradition of ‘Sahih Bukhari’ it is mentioned that the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, will refuse to intercede for those who do not pay the Zak ā t (Bukhari). But this also is a fact so often proved that whenever the