Paradise or to Hell."

This ḥadith therefore shows that he does not lapse into unbelief, for had neglecting zakah rendered him a disbeliever he would have no possible path to Paradise, whereas the ḥadith clearly states: "then he will be shown his path—whether to Paradise or to Hell."

There is, however, a report from Imām Aḥmad (may Allah have mercy on him) declaring that such a person does become a disbeliever, on the grounds that zakah is one of Islam’s pillars; and when a pillar of a house collapses, the whole house falls. The sounder view is that he does not become a disbeliever, yet he is in grave danger—Allah’s refuge is sought—and the threat against him is severe.

A point concerning zakatable assets: not every kind of wealth is subject to zakah. Some forms of wealth are zakatable while others are not. Zakah is obligatory in the following cases:

1. Gold and silver. Zakah is due on them under all circumstances—whether they are minted coins such as dirhams and dinars, bullion in the form of gold and silver pieces, jewelry that is worn or lent out, or anything else. This category of wealth—gold and silver—is always subject to zakah provided it reaches the nisab (minimum threshold) and remains at that level for a full lunar year.
   • The nisab for gold is 85 grams.
   • The nisab for silver is 56 Saudi riyals, equivalent to 595 grams.

Whoever possesses this amount of gold or silver has reached the nisab; if it stays at or above that level for a complete year, zakah is due on it. If it falls short, no zakah is required.