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| Arabic | زكاة |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | za-KAAH |
| Etymology | From Arabic زكاة (zakah/zakat), derived from the root ز-ك-و (za-ka-wa, 'to purify/grow/increase'). The dual meaning of purification and growth reflects how giving zakah purifies the giver's wealth while growing the community's wellbeing. |
Zakah(زكاة) The obligatory annual charitable contribution required of every Muslim whose wealth exceeds the nisab (minimum threshold) for one lunar year. It is the third pillar of Islam and involves giving 2.5% of qualifying wealth to designated recipients.
زكاة
Zakah is both a spiritual act of worship and a socioeconomic system. The Quran pairs zakah with salah over 30 times, emphasizing their equal importance. Qualifying wealth includes: gold, silver, cash savings, business inventory, agricultural produce, and livestock, each with specific nisab thresholds and rates. The eight categories of eligible zakah recipients (Quran 9:60) are: the poor (fuqara), the needy (masakin), zakah administrators, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, slaves seeking freedom, debtors, those striving in Allah's cause, and wayfarers. Zakah is not applicable to one's primary residence, personal vehicle, or everyday necessities. Many pilgrims use the Hajj season as a time to calculate and distribute their zakah, combining spiritual purification with financial purification. The Hajj journey itself is not deducted from zakah-eligible wealth.
From Arabic زكاة (zakah/zakat), derived from the root ز-ك-و (za-ka-wa, 'to purify/grow/increase'). The dual meaning of purification and growth reflects how giving zakah purifies the giver's wealth while growing the community's wellbeing.
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