zakat
zakat
UK[zəˈkɑːt]US[zəˈkɑːt]
n
In Islam, an obligatory annual payment made under Islamic law on certain kinds of property and used for charitable and religious purposes.
Etymology
The word 'zakat' entered English directly from Arabic, where 'zakāh' signifies 'purification' and 'growth'. This concept is central to Islamic practice, where the act of giving a prescribed portion of one's wealth is believed to purify the remaining wealth and the soul of the giver. The term reflects the religious obligation, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, designed to achieve social equity through the redistribution of wealth. Its adoption into English vocabulary parallels the broader discussion of Islamic finance and religious duties in a global context.
Analysis
This word is a direct loanword from Arabic (زَكَاة). It is not productively formed from smaller, recognizable morphemes within the English spelling system.
Examples
Muslims calculate their zakat based on their savings and assets over a lunar year.
The collected zakat is distributed to the poor, the needy, and other specified categories.
Fulfilling the payment of zakat is a fundamental religious duty for those who meet the necessary criteria.