Refusal to Pay zakat

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ’Abd Allah ibn Muskan from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Once I asked abu ’Abd Allah عليه السلام, about the following words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ’. . . whatever they are avaricious about will be tied to their necks on the Day of Judgment. . (3:180) The Imam said, ‘O abu Muhammad, if one refuses to pay zakat Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, on the Day of Judgment will make a serpent of fire to curl around his neck and bite his flesh until He completes His judging all people.’ He then said, ’The words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, “Whatever they are avaricious about will be tied to their necks” is a reference to their avarice in paying zakat.”’