Chapter on Zakat of Gold

Ali ibn al-Hasan ibn Faddal from Ibrahim ibn Hashim from Hammad from Hariz from Zurarah, who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “Your father (Imam al Baqir عليه السلام) said: ‘Whoever flees through it from zakat, then he must pay it.’” Imam عليه السلام said: “My father عليه السلام spoke the truth. He must pay (zakat) on what became obligatory upon him, and as for what did not become obligatory upon him, then there is nothing upon him from it.” Then Imam عليه السلام said to me: “Tell me, if a man were to lose consciousness for a day and then die, so his prayer passed away, would it be upon him, after he had died, to perform it?” I (the narrator) replied: “No.” Imam عليه السلام said: “Except if he had regained consciousness during his day.” Then Imam عليه السلام said to me (the narrator): “Tell me, if a man became ill in the month of Ramadan and then died in it, would fasting be performed on his behalf?” I (the narrator) replied: “No.” Imam عليه السلام said: “And likewise, a man does not pay (zakat) from his wealth except what has fallen due upon it.”