TheMostReadBook.org

An English translation of the Quran that is as close as possible to the Arabic sacred text
View active topics
  Verse(s):    
View unanswered posts





Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: الزكاة /æz,zækæ:h/
PostPosted: 13 Jul 2009, 21:23 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: 04 May 2009, 16:10
Posts: 4558
Location: USA
This word has been translated "charity" and "poor due." Both are technically correct but not precise. That's because it actually means "growth", a healthy, blessed growth. God calls the mandated charity growth, because He promises to grow and bless the money from which Zakah is given out, which is the exact opposite of the material view of such giving.

So, how do we convey the dimension of growth when we translate this word? It is the dimension emphasized by God, as in


What complicates the translation effort further, is that the Arabic word also means purification. An example of the use of this word for purification is
and

_________________
A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: الزكاة /æz,zækæ:h/
PostPosted: 14 Jul 2009, 04:58 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: 05 May 2009, 00:16
Posts: 1839
Location: USA
I thought of "boost" as capturing both the growth/lifting meaning of Zakat and the other meaning in the transitive version "zakka" (recommend/endorse).

_________________
To translate is the best way to understand


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: الزكاة /æz,zækæ:h/
PostPosted: 14 Jul 2009, 17:51 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: 04 May 2009, 16:10
Posts: 4558
Location: USA
Pragmatic wrote:
I thought of "boost" as capturing both the growth/lifting meaning of Zakat and the other meaning in the transitive version "zakka" (recommend/endorse).

Excellent line of thought. I think the dilemma of translating Zakah is in coming up with a word that conveys the two meanings: improving quantity and improving quality. As I consult the thesaurus, I find many words that can be used for both, such as: Cultivate, Enhance, Foster.

Let's keep brainstorming about this. I think it's possible to find a word, or a short phrase, which can be uniformly used, if we keep in mind the finite set of usage of the word in the Quran. The primary usage is as follows:

  1. Pure person, as in
    also 18:74, 19:13 and 19:19
  2. Purified soul, as in
    also 24:21
  3. Purified wealth, as in
  4. The ritual alms giving, as in
    and many others.

I'd use "purify" for the the first two usage items. I'm inclined to use "alms" for the last two items but wish there is a better fitting word.

_________________
A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
It is currently 28 Mar 2024, 21:37

All times are UTC

Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group