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The root of the
word Zaka(t) is Z-K-W (za-kaf-waw), which leads to the
following meanings:
-To increase
-To grow
-To thrive
-To augment
-To increase in
the purity of heart; to increase in integrity
-To befit
Primarily the
root denotes an increase or augmentation (particularly of a
positive, favourable or auspicious thing or virtue). Some
also say that it means "to purify". However, in the Quran
AZKA has been used along with ATHAR in 2:232.
The root , T-H-R (ta-ha-ra) from which the word ATHAR
is derived, has the meanings "to purify" but the meanings
"to increase, grow, thrive, augment etc." are the primary
significations of the root Z-K-W. TAHARA is a
negative virtue which signifies being free from dirt, filth
or derogatory things. ZAKA is a positive virtue which
signifies positive growth and development. The following
phrases further clarify the signification of the root
Z-K-W.
Zakat-il-ardh
means the land throve or yielded increase
Zakaa-al-ghulam
means the boy grew or throve
Al-ilmo
yazkoo alal infaaq
means the knowledge increases by spending
Zukkoo means he enjoyed or led a plentiful and a pleasant or an
easy, and a soft or delicate life. OR he was in a state of
abundance of the goods, conveniences or comforts of life OR
he enjoyed a life of increase or plenty.
From this:
Zaka
means increase or augmentation or growth or development.
The term
aatoozzakaat
آتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ
appears in the following verses:
2:43; 2:83;
2:110; 2:277; 4:77; 9:5; 9:11; 22:41; 22:78; 24:56; 58:13;
73:20;
The root of the
word Aatoo is A-T-Y (alif-ta-ya),
which has the following meanings (depending upon what word
or preposition follows this word):
-To come (to or
over someone)
-To arrive (at)
-To bring, bring
forward, produce, accomplish or achieve (something)
-To bring, give
or offer or provide (someone, something)
-To do or
perform (a deed)
-To carry out or
execute (e.g. a movement)
-To commit or
perpetrate (e.g. a sin or crime)
The term
aatoozzakaat
is
usually taken to mean "give the poor rate" where "poor rate"
means "the local tax for the relief of the poor". This
definition of the term aatoozzakaat is not
correct and does not bring forth the true and complete
concept of the term ZAKA. The term aatoozzakaat
does not mean JUST to give some fixed sum from the
money to the poor, (although it may be a means of
accomplishing ZAKA). It is much more than that. Please see
the verse 2:177 in which giving some of the wealth to the
near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer
and the beggars and for (the emancipation of) the captives
has been differentiated from the term aatoozzakaat.
Zakat is more
than just giving from one's wealth to the poor. See the
following:
لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَالْمَلائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ
وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّائِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلاةَ
وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ
2:177 It is
not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East
and the West, but righteousness is this that one should
believe in Allah and the last day and the angels and the
Book and the prophets, and give away wealth out of
love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the
needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for (the
emancipation of) the captives, and establish SALAT and
provide ZAKA; and the performers of their promise
when they make a promise, and the patient in distress and
affliction and in time of conflicts-- these are they who are
true (to themselves) and these are they who guard (against
the inevitable consequences of violating Allah's Commands).
Even from the
language point of view the term aatoozzakaat
cannot be translated as "give the poor rate". Although
aatoo has one of the meanings "give" but
Zakaat does not mean "poor rate". Zakaat means
increase or augmentation or growth or development.
The term
aatoozzakaat is very comprehensive. It signifies
"(to) Do whatever it takes to provide the means for the
development and growth of all", i.e. "(to) Do whatever is
necessary to accomplish the physical and personal growth and
development of all". [See the meanings, "do", "accomplish", provide and "achieve"
for the word aatoo given above].
The purpose of aatoozzakaat is to provide the
means of development for all. It includes physical
development and nourishment as well as development of the
human personality i.e. mental/intellectual/personal
development or development of the "self". Development of
human hardware as well as human software. It involves
development, increase and augmentation in the produce and
resources to provide abundance of goods, conveniences and
comforts to people as well as their self-actualization or
development of their personalities. It is a complete
economic system that ensures the provision of all the
requisite resources for the physical and personal
development of people. In order to establish such a system
you have to have authority, power, dominion and government.
If you already have such an authority and you are an Islamic
Government, your primary task is to establish such a system.
Please see 22:41.
الَّذِينَ إِنْ مَكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الأرْضِ أَقَامُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَلِلَّهِ عَاقِبَةُ الأمُورِ
22:41
(Believers are} those who, if We establish them in the land,
establish SALAT and provide ZAKA and enjoin good and forbid
evil: ...
Notice in the
above verse, the establishment in the land has been
described as a prerequisite for the system of ZAKA.
As has been
mentioned above that growth and development is of two types:
Physical (i.e. of the human hardware or body) and Personal
(i.e. of the human software or the self or the personality).
For physical development you have to have something added to
your body as a nourishment but for the development of the
self or self-actualization, you need to give something out
of your wealth or resources for others. See the following
verses (which state that TAZKIYA or personal
development is achieved by giving from your wealth to
others:
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ صَلاتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
9:103 Accept their contribution for the community.
Purify their thoughts with proper education and training
so that their "Self" may grow. Appreciate and Help them!
Your appreciation and support is a great source of peace in
their hearts. Allah is Hearer, Knower.
الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّى
92:18 Who gives his wealth (for the benefits of others) so
that he may attain self-development (and grow in goodness)
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