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Definition: Literally this means "purity," or "sweetening," but in practice it is used to refer to the Islamic system of social welfare based on an alms tax on wealth held more than a year. This is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
In essence, this tax "sweetens" and "purifies" wealth in a moral sense. Islam does not condemn great wealth, but it does condemn greed - thus, a person who is wealth has an obligation to support the community which has made that wealth possible. To be moral, wealth is something which must be shared, at least to some limited degree.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: zakah
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
What is Islam?
What is Islam? What do Muslims believe? Where did Islam come from? What is jihad? Find the answers to these questions and more in our Islam FAQ.
