ز-ك-و Arabic Root

B1noun

زَكَاةٌ

zakāh

charity / alms / purification tax

Example

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ

wa-aqīmū aṣ-ṣalāta wa-ātū az-zakāh

And establish prayer and give zakah (2:43)

Root: ز-ك-و Quranic

Grammar

Feminine noun. From the root meaning 'to purify' and 'to grow.' The dual meaning is significant: zakāh purifies wealth and causes it to grow in blessing.

Culture

Zakāh is the third pillar of Islam. It is an obligatory charity of 2.5% on savings, emphasizing that wealth is a trust from God meant to benefit society.

B1noun

تَزْكِيَةٌ

tazkiyah

purification / spiritual growth / self-refinement

Example

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ دَسَّاهَا

qad aflaḥa man zakkāhā wa-qad khāba man dassāhā

He has succeeded who purifies it, and he has failed who corrupts it (91:9-10)

Root: ز-ك-و Quranic

Grammar

Form II maṣdar (تَفْعِلَة). Verb: زَكَّى (to purify/grow). Related to زَكَاةٌ (q111, purification tax). Active participle: مُزَكٍّ (purifier).

Culture

Tazkiyah (purification of the soul) is one of the Prophet's four missions stated in the Quran (2:129). Islamic spirituality centers on this lifelong process.