Stealing the wealth of one who does not pay zakat and giving it away in charity

Question

‘Umar is a very wealthy man but pays neither zakat nor charity. Zayd stole all his money and gave it away in charity. What is the ruling of the Shari‘a in this for ‘Umar and for Zayd?

Answer

‘Umar is a sinner for abandoning a fard, and the payment of the zakat remains binding upon him (upon his dhimma). And Zayd is a thief: if the government is Islamic and [the theft] is proven by testimony valid in the Shari‘a, Zayd’s hand is to be cut off.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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