What does "zakat" mean?
Almsgiving, usually in the form of an annual tax on certain types of property which is then used for charitable purposes; the third of the five pillars of Islam.
Zakat
/zəˈkɑːt/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Almsgiving, usually in the form of an annual tax on certain types of property which is then used for charitable purposes; the third of the five pillars of Islam.
- Grammar: zakat is listed as noun.
- Usage evidence: The famous Hadith of Gabriel narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) is one of the most prominent Hadiths in Islam. The text of the Hadith as it is reported: “While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) one day, a man with very white clothes and very black hair appeared before us. No signs of travel were visible on him, and none of us knew him. He sat down next to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), leaned his knees against his knees, placed his hands on his thighs, and said: O Muhammad, tell me about Islam. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, to pay zakat, to fast Ramadan, and to perform Hajj to the House if you are able to do so. He said: You have spoken the truth. We were amazed that he asked him and we believed him. He said: Tell me about faith. He said: It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in destiny, both good and bad. He said: You have spoken the truth.
How to use "zakat"
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Source and review context
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 Almsgiving, usually in the form of an annual tax on certain types of property which is then used for charitable purposes; the third of the five pillars of Islam. uncountable, usually
"Zakât is an ordinance of God, incumbent upon every perſon vvho is free, ſane, adult, and a Muſſulman, provided he be poſſeſſed, in full propriety, of ſuch eſtate or effects as are termed in the language of the lavv a Niſâb, and that he has been in poſſeſſion of the ſame for the ſpace of one complete year, vvhich is denominated Havvlân-Hâvvl. The reaſon of this obligation is found in the vvord of God, vvho has ordained it in the Koran, ſaying, "Bestovv Zakât.""
- 2 the fourth pillar of Islam is almsgiving as an act of worship wordnet
Example
"The famous Hadith of Gabriel narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) is one of the most prominent Hadiths in Islam. The text of the Hadith as it is reported: “While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) one day, a man with very white clothes and very black hair appeared before us. No signs of travel were visible on him, and none of us knew him. He sat down next to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), leaned his knees against his knees, placed his hands on his thighs, and said: O Muhammad, tell me about Islam. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, to pay zakat, to fast Ramadan, and to perform Hajj to the House if you are able to do so. He said: You have spoken the truth. We were amazed that he asked him and we believed him. He said: Tell me about faith. He said: It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in destiny, both good and bad. He said: You have spoken the truth."
Common questions
How do you use "zakat" in a sentence?
The famous Hadith of Gabriel narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) is one of the most prominent Hadiths in Islam. The text of the Hadith as it is reported: “While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) one day, a man with very white clothes and very black hair appeared before us. No signs of travel were visible on him, and none of us knew him. He sat down next to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), leaned his knees against his knees, placed his hands on his thighs, and said: O Muhammad, tell me about Islam. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, to pay zakat, to fast Ramadan, and to perform Hajj to the House if you are able to do so. He said: You have spoken the truth. We were amazed that he asked him and we believed him. He said: Tell me about faith. He said: It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in destiny, both good and bad. He said: You have spoken the truth.
How do you pronounce "zakat"?
Pronounced /zəˈkɑːt/.
Etymology
Borrowed from: * Persian زکات (zakât); * Turkish zekât, from Ottoman Turkish زكات (zekat); or * Urdu زَکَات (zakāt); all from Arabic زَكَاة (zakāh, “almsgiving, zakat; purification”), from زَكَوٰة (zakāh) (archaic), from Aramaic זכותא/ܙܟܘܬܐ (zākūṯā, “goodness, probity, uprightness; merit; victory”), from זכי (zəḵē, “to gain; to overcome, triumph over”).