Chapter on Additions Regarding Zakat

And from him, from Ali ibn Ibrahim, from his father, from Hammad, from Hariz, from Ubayd ibn Zurarah: I (narrator) heard Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, saying: “There is no man who withholds a dirham from a rightful due except that he spends two dirhams in other than its rightful place, and there is no man who withholds a right from his wealth except that Allah سبحانه وتعالى, will encircle him with a serpent of fire on the Day of Resurrection.” He (narrator) said: “I said to Imam عليه السلام: ‘A man who had recognition paid the zakat to those who were not entitled to it for a period of time; is it upon him to pay it again to those entitled to it when he comes to know them?’” Imam عليه السلام said: “Yes.” He (narrator) said: “I asked: ‘Then what if he does not know anyone entitled to it, so he does not pay it, or he does not know that it is obligatory upon him, then he comes to know after that?’” Imam عليه السلام said: “He pays it to those entitled to it for what has passed.” He (narrator) said: “I asked: ‘Then what if he did not know those entitled to it, so he gave it to one who was not worthy of it, while he had searched and exerted effort, then afterwards he came to know the wrongness of what he had done?’” Imam عليه السلام said: “It is not upon him to pay it again.”