Al-Hasan said about the verse, “He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself”: it is whoever’s deeds are pure (1).

Abū al-Aḥwaṣ said: it refers to all the zakāt due on one’s wealth (2)(3).

Az-Zajjāj said: “It is purified through fear of Allah” (4), and the adjective zākī means something that grows and multiplies (5).

They offered the same line of interpretation for His words:

“And woe to the polytheists—those who do not give the zakāt” (Fussilat 41:6–7).

Ibn ʿAbbās said: it means they do not bear witness that there is no god but Allah (6). (This was also the view of ʿIkrimah. Some said the intended meaning is that they do not cleanse themselves of polytheism by affirming monotheism) (7).

Mujāhid said: they do not purify their deeds, meaning they are not