Question 376) - What is the meaning of Zakah linguistically and Islaamically?

A: Linguistically Zakah is purification and increase.90 In shari'ah it is the decree of Allaah the Lawgiver, that the owner of a set amount makes a poor Muslim owner of a set portion of his wealth for the sake of Allaah, in a way that the first owner terminates his benefits of ownership in all aspects.

*90 It is thus called Zakah because it purifies one's wealth. It is also said that through it wealth increases. [al-Bahr ar-Raiq (216/2)]

~ al-Quduri ~