Zakat is one of the most important duties of Islam and neglecting it is regarded as one of the greater sins. Since it has been mentioned with polytheism and denial of the Day of Judgment it is clear that neglecting it will make a person go to Hell.

Verse 7 of Surah Fussilat say:

“Those who do not give Zakat are disbelievers in the hereafter.”

This verse led to a debate between the commentators and they gave various explanations for it. If Zakat is one of the collaterals of Islam then how can neglecting it become proof of disbelief and polytheism? Some have taken the revelation of the verse to mean that neglecting it means disbelief even a person does not deny it to be a commandment. Some have said it is disbelief not to believe that it is a commandment and not to give it since it is one of the necessary commandments of Islam. This verse can be better explained when we take it to be an important commandment among others because paying it means to accept the rule of Islam in a society and neglecting it means denying the rule of Islam or rebelling against it. We know that rebelling against the Islamic rule is disbelief. Verse 35 of Surah Tauba can be construed as proof (as we have said earlier) that neglecting Zakat will lead to Hell.

1. See Tafsir Namuna for details of this verse in the explanation of verses 6 to 8 of Surah Fussilat.