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Surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise." Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi The payment of zakah should purify a person. It also purifies his wealth. Allah said to the Prophet (peace be upon him), ࣲ ֐;3 ėĘ\/; ࣴࣵ ়ঽাƉr " :G.- "Take (0 Muhammad) alms from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it" (al-Taubah 103). Beyond that, it can purify a believer's soul by cleansing him of the diseases of stinginess and miserliness. It also purifies the wealth of the person by removing any evil effect from it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) once said, oӟ ࣳ ࣶࣷ :ill ଏଐ ࣸtSj ࣹjj ଎ "Whoever pays the zakah on his wealth will have its evil removed from him."1 zakah also has a very important role to play for society as a whole. There are some obvious factors that may be stated here. For example, zakah helps the poor of society as they receive wealth that they need. This should also help to strengthen the ties of brotherhood within a Muslim society, as the poor know that the rich will come to their aid through zakah and other means of charity. Even for those who are not very rich, it makes them realize that they can afford to give for the sake of Allah. They may realize that they will not starve or die if they give some of their wealth for the sake of Allah. Furthermore, it can make those who possess wealth realize that such wealth has actually come as a blessing from Allah. Hence, the person must use it in the way that is pleasing to Allah. One of the most pleasing aspects is to fulfill one's responsibility of paying zakah upon such wealth. There are other important social aspects that can be deduced from the Quran and sunnah. For example, one of the keys to the establishment of a Muslim community and Muslim state is the giving of zakah. Allah says in the Quran, iJ/fj 'J.bjll iÇ1;j É;J \ ij.u'I !"#{}\  Ӟ 0, \ "Those who, if We give them power in the land, (they) order for the establishment of the prayer, to pay the zakah, and they enjoin the good and forbid the evil. And with Allah rests the end of all matters" (al-Hajj 41 ). Muslims who do not pay their zakah are not only harming themselves but they can actually harm the entire Muslim ummah. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, 1 Recorded by ibn Khuzaima and al-Tabaraani. According to al-Albaani, it is hasan. Al-Albaani, sahih al-Targheeb wa al-Tarheeb, vol. I , p. 3 12. Hadith #3: Islam Has Been Built Upon Five (Pillars] I '\_· ू :\ , •1'.'i1 ०·_\' ÌL::J1 L -i-8i1 I ' .' #I : .l\' 0f జt.S-''· I ' -:- , :\­ Jଡ r r-:-dz YJ , 8 Y"';° 9 :_,.. _) ु rJ "A people do not keep from giving the zakah on their wealth except that they will be kept from having rain falling from the sky. If it were not for the animals, it would not rain at all."1 Allah and His prophet have made it clear that not paying zakah is an act that is displeasing to Allah. Indeed, Allah has threatened a great punishment for such behavior. For example, the following verse of the Quran is a reference to those who do not pay the zakah on their wealth: • / / ,, l ". ॄ' .. \ r",, , ,, ,_o..WLJ . IT , , , 'Ș1, L.:.., C _'1::_, ,. : .:JT Ž ,, ,,' ·-r uIT" J:->" Y' , , 0-: r-+--' ॸ L uृ u., ଍ J "And let not those who covetously withhold of that which Allah has bestowed on them of His Bounty (wealth) think that it is good for them. Nay, it will be worse for them. The things which they covetously withheld shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is Well-Acquainted with all that you do" (ali-Imraan 180). The Prophet (peace be upon him) described the punishment that will come to those who do not pay the proper zakah on their wealth. In one hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "[On the Day of Resurrection] camels will come to their owner in the best state of health they have ever had (in the world), and if he had not paid their zakah 1 Recorded by ibn Maajah. According to al-Albaani it is authentic. See Muhammad Naasir al­ Deen al-Albaani, Silsilat al-Ahadeeth al-Saheeha (Beirut: al-Mak.tab al-Islaami, 1979), vol. 1, hadith no. l 06.