Praise be to Allaah.
Yes, the zakaah that is one of the five pillars of Islam is something other than
the zakaah that must be paid at the end of Ramadaan (zakaat al-fitr).
The former is zakaah on wealth which is only obligatory on certain kinds of
wealth, viz.:
1- An’aam livestock (camels, cattle and sheep)
2- Gold and silver and, nowadays, paper currency
3- Trade goods
4- What is produced by the earth, which includes two
things:
a. Crops and fruits. The scholars are unanimously
agreed that it is obligatory to pay zakaah on four kinds: wheat, barley, dates
and raisins; they differed with regard to other kinds.
b. Rikaaz (buried treasure), i.e., wealth of the kuffaar
buried in the ground that is found by a Muslim.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) narrated in Majmoo’
al-Fataawa (25/10) that Ibn al-Mundhir (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The scholars are unanimously agreed that zakaah is obligatory on nine things:
camels, cattle, sheep, gold, silver, wheat, barley, dates and raisins, if they
reach the nisaab (minimum threshold) for each type at which zakaah becomes due.
They differed with regard to other types of wealth.
Zakaah for each of these kinds of wealth is obligatory subject to certain
conditions, and a specific amount of the wealth must be given as defined by
sharee’ah.
This zakaah (zakaah on wealth) is one of the five pillars of Islam. Whoever
denies it is a kaafir and whoever withholds it is a rebellious evildoer; the
Muslim ruler must take it from him by force. If he persists in withholding it
and is protected by his tribe then he must be fought until he pays it.
Al-Bukhaari (8) and Muslim (12) narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar said: I
heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say:
“Islam is built on five (pillars): bearing witness that there is no god except
Allaah, establishing regular prayer, paying zakaah, fasting Ramadaan and going
on Pilgrimage to the House.”
Al-Bukhaari (25) and Muslim (22) narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I have been enjoined
to fight the people until they bear witness that there is no god except Allaah
and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, and they establish regular prayer
and pay zakaah. If they do that, then they have protected their blood and wealth
from me except in cases where Islamic laws apply, and their reckoning will be
with Allaah.
The Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) were unanimously agreed on
fighting those who withheld zakaah. Al-Bukhaari (1400) and Muslim (20) narrated
that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “When the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed away, and Abu Bakr
(may Allaah be pleased with him) became caliph, and some of the Arabs
disbelieved and apostatized, ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: ‘How
could you fight the people, when the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said, “I have been enjoined to fight the people until they
bear witness that there is no god except Allaah. Whoever says that has protected
his blood and wealth from me except in cases where Islamic laws apply, and their
reckoning will be with Allaah”?’ Then Abu Bakr said: ‘By Allaah, I will fight
those who separate prayer and zakaah, for zakaah is what is due on wealth. By
Allaah, if they withhold from me a small sheep that they used to give to the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), I will fight
them for withholding it.’ ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: ‘By
Allaah, when I realized that Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) was
confident about this idea, then I knew that this was the truth.’”
With regard to the zakaah that is obligatory at the end of Ramadaan, this is
Zakaat al-Fitr. The scholars are unanimously agreed that it is obligatory,
except those who held odd views.
See Tarh al-Tathreeb, 4/46.
It is less important than the zakaah of wealth with regard to obligation and
status. Zakaat al-Fitr is not one of the pillars of Islam, and the one who
denies it is not a kaafir.
Zakaat al-Fitr was mentioned in many ahaadeeth, such as the following:
Al-Bukhaari (1503) and Muslim (984) narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be
pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) enjoined zakaat al-fitr, a saa’ of dates, or a saa’ of barley, for
every Muslim, slave or free, male or female, young or old, and he enjoined that
it be given before the people go out to the prayer.
Abu Dawood (1609) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined zakaat al-fitr as a purification
for those who fasted from idle or obscene talk, and so as to feed the poor.
Whoever gives it before the prayer, it is accepted zakaah and whoever gives it
after the prayer, it is ordinary charity. Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in
Saheeh Abi Dawood.