"I came to the Messenger of Allah while he was sitting in the shade of the Ka'bah." He said: "He saw me approaching and he said: 'They are lost on the Day of Judgment! By the Lord of the Ka'bah!'" He said: "I said t myself: Woe is me! Perhaps something has been revealed about me!'" He said: "So I said: 'Who are they, and may my father and mother be ransomed for you.' So the Messenger of Allah said: 'They are those who have much, except for who says like this, and this, and this and motioned with his hand to his front, and t his right, and to his left.' Then he said: 'By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! No man will die, leaving a camel or a cow that he did not pay Zakat on, except that it will come on the Day of Judgment larger and fatter than it was, they will tread him under their hooves and butt him with their horns, all of them; such that when the last of them has had a turn, the first returns to him, until he is judged before the people.'"
The Book on Zakat - Jami' at-Tirmidhi 617
This narration from Jami' at-Tirmidhi contains profound warnings regarding the obligation of Zakat and the severe consequences of its neglect.
Context and Initial Declaration
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was sitting in the sacred precincts of the Ka'bah when he made this grave declaration about those who will be lost on Judgment Day. His emphatic oath "By the Lord of the Ka'bah!" underscores the seriousness of what follows.
The companion's immediate concern reflects the profound impact of such statements on the early Muslims, who constantly sought to purify their deeds and fulfill their obligations.
Identification of the Doomed
The Prophet identified those destined for punishment as wealthy individuals who fail to discharge their Zakat obligations properly. His hand gestures indicating front, right, and left signify comprehensive giving - meaning Zakat should be distributed to all deserving categories mentioned in the Quran.
This emphasizes that Zakat is not optional charity but a fundamental pillar of Islam requiring systematic distribution to specified recipients.
The Nature of the Punishment
The most severe warning concerns animals on which Zakat was due but not paid. These animals will testify against their owners on Judgment Day, appearing larger and stronger than they were in worldly life.
They will trample and gore the negligent owner in a continuous cycle of punishment - when the last animal finishes, the first begins again. This illustrates how neglected religious duties become instruments of divine retribution.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars explain that this hadith establishes several crucial principles: Zakat is obligatory on specific types of wealth including livestock; its neglect constitutes major sin; and accountability for religious obligations is absolute before Allah.
The public nature of the punishment ("until he is judged before the people") serves as additional humiliation and demonstrates that worldly honor means nothing compared to fulfillment of divine commands.