Linguistically, Zakat means purity or purification. The speaker references the Quranic verse 'do not purify yourselves, He knows best who is righteous' to illustrate this meaning. It signifies a spiritual purification, distinct from physical cleanliness.
The Quran sometimes refers to Zakat as 'Sadaqa' (charity), as seen in the verse 'Take from their wealth a charity to purify them and cleanse them thereby.' This implies that Zakat is a type of Sadaqa, specifically an obligatory one, distinguishing it from voluntary acts of charity.
The word 'Sadaqa' is used in three ways: firstly, for endowments (waqf), as exemplified by Ali ibn Abi Talib's endowment; secondly, for voluntary charitable giving, often done to avert misfortune; and thirdly, for Zakat itself, which is a mandatory form of charity.
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