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)
