Understanding Zakat In terms of
language, the word zakat is the basic word (masdar) of zaka which means
blessing, growing, clean and good. Something is zaka, means to grow and
develop, and a person is a zaka, meaning that person is good. According to
Lisan Al-'Arab the basic meaning of the word zakat, in terms of language, is
sacred, growing, blessing and praiseworthy; all used in the Qur'an and
al-Hadith. But the strongest, according to al-Wahidi and others, the word zaka
means to grow and grow, so it can be said, the plant is zaka, meaning to grow,
while every thing that is added is called zaka, that means increase. When one
plant grows flawlessly, then the word zaka here means clean. And if a person is
given the nature of zaka in a good sense, then it means that person has more
good qualities. A person is a zaki, meaning a person who has more qualities of
a good person, and the phrase "zakka al-hakim al-syuhud" means the
judge declaring additional witnesses in the khabar. Zakat in terms of
jurisprudence means "A certain amount of property is obligated by God to
be handed over to the rightful" besides "taking out a certain amount
of itself." The amount spent is called zakat katrna issued it adds much,
makes more meaning, and protects the wealth from destruction ". Al-Nawawi
quoted Al-Wahidi as saying. (Fiqh al-Zakat, I / 36).
