Does the state punish those who do not pay Zakat, or is their punishment limited to the Hereafter?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
One who withholds is punished in this world and the Hereafter. The state has the right to chastise and imprison him until he discloses his wealth. If he withholds it out of stinginess while under the state's authority, zakat is forcibly taken from him and he is punished. Scholars differ on taking half of his wealth as a punishment. However, if he is outside the state's authority, he is fought over it. If he denies its obligation, then if he is ignorant, he is informed of the ruling; otherwise, he is judged to be an apostate and considered an apostate.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/139241
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 139241
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy