Ṣadaqah

The term ṣadaqah has been often translated as “benevolence,” “alms,” “charity.” The primary distinction between zakāt and ṣadaqah lies in the fact that zakāt is mandatory, whereas ṣadaqah being a broader concept, typically denotes voluntary giving of various kinds. Ṣadaqah can be dispensed in diverse material and nonmaterial forms. According to aḥadīth, the traditions ascribed to the Prophet, every act of goodness is a manifestation of ṣadaqah. This section examines the main etymological, historical, and epistemological differences between ṣadaqah and zakāt, and the specificities of the former Islamic traditional form of voluntary giving.