zakat

American  

[zuh-kaht] / zəˈkɑt /

Also zakah

noun

Islam.

1. a tax, comprising percentages of personal income of every kind, levied as almsgiving for the relief of poor people: the third of the Pillars of Islam.

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zakat British  

/ zaˈkat /

noun

1. Islam an annual tax on Muslims to aid the poor in the Muslim community

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Etymology

Origin of zakat

First recorded in 1800–05; from Turkish zekât or Persian zakāt, from Arabic zakāh

Example Sentences

The other pillars are the profession of faith, prayer five times a day, zakat - a form of charity, and making the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca once in their lifetime.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2024

Their desire to keep their assistance local is based on Islamic teaching that “you should try to give zakat by hand,” said Mr. Khan.

From New York Times • Apr. 29, 2022

One way this happens is through zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam, which asks Muslims to contribute a portion of their wealth to those in need.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2022

By contrast, Rehman noted that the United Nations Development Programme operates on a budget of about 1 percent that of annual zakat donations.

From Slate • Aug. 17, 2018

“Just do zakat, give the money to someone in need, okay? No sheep kill­ing.”

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini