Hadith on Zakat: Unpaid charity appears as a fearsome snake

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The unpaid alms of one of you will come on the Day of Resurrection as a white-headed, venomous serpent. Its owner will flee from it, but it will pursue him, saying: I am your treasure! By Allah, the serpent will not stop chasing him until he puts up his hand and the serpent devours it whole.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6957

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Bukhari

عَنْ ‌أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَكُونُ كَنْزُ أَحَدِكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شُجَاعًا أَقْرَعَ يَفِرُّ مِنْهُ صَاحِبُهُ فَيَطْلُبُهُ وَيَقُولُ أَنَا كَنْزُكَ قَالَ وَاللهِ لَنْ يَزَالَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَتَّى يَبْسُطَ يَدَهُ فَيُلْقِمَهَا فَاهُ

6957 صحيح البخاري كتاب الحيل باب في الزكاة وأن لا يفرق بين مجتمع ولا يجمع بين متفرق خشية الصدقة

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