Zakah means purification. This purification may be internal or external.
The word of "Zakat" is mentioned in the Quran 32 times, of which 27 times it is together with Salat (prayer) or connection of man to the Creator.

The person that is obedient to the laws of the Creator is connected to Him and to his system of being . Therefore, he will keep his internal purification as far as his faculties of seeing, hearing and feeling go in accordance with the Quran, and then he purifies himself externally by gibing away of his wealth to help his society in elevating it closer towards an ideal Islamic state.

One of the benefits of Zakat in the Quran is receiving the companionship of Allah. Which states how Allah helps one who helps people.

"And Allah said I an with you if you establish salat and practice purification (charity) and be secured to my messengers and strengthen them and loan to Allah a good loan. I will certainly cover your evil deeds, and cause you to enter Heaven with arivers flowing beneath." Sura 5 , Aya 12.

In this verse we can see the path of Heaven in Salat and Zakat, and in following the way of the Apostles, and paying a loan for a good deed. We will receive the result of our deed and a return of our loan in Heaven. This is the promise of Allah. The act of Zakat brings the help of the Creator in achieving the goal of man in this life. That is the pleasure of hereafter, the promise of Heaven.