Alms: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Clothing, food,Money or money that isgoods given to poor people}}

'''Alms''' ({{IPAc-en|ɑː|m|z|}}, {{IPAc-en|ɑː|l|m|z|}}) are money, food, or other material goods donated to people living in [[poverty]].<ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|alms}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Dictionary.com|alms}}</ref> Providing alms is often considered an act of [[virtue]] or [[Charity (practice)|charity]]. The act of providing alms is called '''almsgiving''', and it is a widespread practice in a number of different [[religion]]s and cultures.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nation|first=The|date=2021-09-15|title=Ridding Lagos of street beggars and hawkers|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/ridding-lagos-of-street-beggars-and-hawkers/|access-date=2021-09-18|website=The Nation Newspaper|language=en-US}}</ref>

{{main|Dāna#Buddhism|Satuditha}}

In [[Buddhism]], both "almsgiving" and "giving" are called "[[Dana (Buddhism)|dāna]]" ([[Pāli]]).<ref>Nyanatiloka (1980), entry for "dāna". [http://www.budsas.org/ebud/bud-dict/dic3_d.htm Budsas.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219163600/http://www.budsas.org/ebud/bud-dict/dic3_d.htm |date=2007-02-19 }}</ref> Such giving is one of the three elements of the path of practice as formulated by the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] for [[Householder (Buddhism)|laypeople]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-26|title=Buddha Purnima 2021: Date, significance and importance of the day|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/buddha-purnima-2021-date-significance-and-importance-7303079/|access-date=2021-09-18|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> This path of practice for laypeople is [[Dana (Buddhism)|dāna]], [[Śīla|sīla]], and [[Samādhi (Buddhism)Bhavana|bhāvanā]].<ref>Nyanatiloka (1980), entry for "dāna" [http://www.budsas.org/ebud/bud-dict/dic3_d.htm Budsas.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219163600/http://www.budsas.org/ebud/bud-dict/dic3_d.htm |date=2007-02-19 }}; and, PTS (1921–25), entry for "Puñña" (merit)[https://archive.today/20120707184520/http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3017.pali Uchicago.edu].</ref>

Generosity towards other sentient beings is greatlyalso emphasized in Mahayana as one of the perfections ([[paramita]]). As shown in [[Je Tsongkhapa|Lama Tsong Khapa's]] 'The Abbreviated Points of the Graded Path' ({{bo|w=lam-rim bsdus-don}}):

==== MotivesIntentions for giving ====

The motivesintentions behind giving play an important role in developing spiritual qualities. The [[suttas]] record various motives for exercising generosity. For example, the Anguttara Nikaya (A.iv, 236) enumerates the following eight motives:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/various/wheel367.html|title=Dana: The Practice of Giving|website=www.accesstoinsight.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226044803/http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/various/wheel367.html|archive-date=2009-02-26|access-date=2009-02-22}}</ref>

In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and the [[Eastern Catholic Churches]], the collection of alms and tithes has not been formally united to the offertory in any liturgical action. However, either having a collection plate in the [[narthex]] or passing it unobtrusively during the service is not uncommon. In [[Eastern Orthodox theology]], almsgiving is an important part of the spiritual life, and [[fasting]] should always be accompanied by increased prayer and almsgiving.<ref>{{Cite book |lastlast1=Kallistos (Ware) |firstfirst1=Bishop |author-link=Timothy Ware |last2=Mary |first2=Mother |year=1978 |publication-date=2002 |title=The Lenten Triodion |pages=35ff |location=South Canaan PA |publisher=St. Tikhon's Seminary Press |isbn=1-878997-51-3}}</ref> Almsgiving in the name of the deceased also frequently accompanies [[prayer for the dead]]. Those whose financial circumstances do not permit the giving of monetary alms may give alms in other ways, such as [[intercessory prayer]] and [[Works of Mercy|acts of mercy]] such as visiting people in prison, clothing the poor or volunteering in soup kitchens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Matthew 25:36 - The Sheep and the Goats |url=https://biblehub.com/matthew/25-36.htm |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Bible Hub}}</ref>

[[File:RaviMandodari Varma-Ladybased Givingon AlmsRaja atRavi Varma's thepainting Temple(cropped).jpg|right|thumb|Lady giving alms at the Temple by [[Raja Ravi Varma]] (1848–1906)]]

In Islam, the concept of Muhsi or Muhsin alms-giver or charitable giving is generally divided into voluntary giving, ''[[sadaqah|ṣadaqah]]'' ({{lang|ar|صدقة}}), and an obligatory practice, the ''[[zakat|zakāh]]'' ({{lang|ar|الزكاة}}). ''ZakatZakāh'' is governed by a specific set of rules within [[Fiqh|Islamic jurisprudence]] and is intended to fulfill a well-defined set of theological and social requirements. ''SadaqahṢadaqah'' is possibly a better translation of Christian influenced formulations of the notion of '"alms'" for that reason, though ''zakatzakāh'' plays a much larger role within Islamic charity.

''ZakatZakāh'' is the third of the [[Five Pillars of Islam|five pillars of Islam]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/faithpillars.html |title=Five Pillars |publisher=PBS |access-date=2010-11-17 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628223009/http://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/faithpillars.html |archive-date=2011-06-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hooker |first=Richard |url=http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GLOSSARY/5PILLARS.HTM |title=Arkan ad-Din the five pillars of religion |publisher=[[Washington State University]] |date=14 July 1999 |access-date=2010-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203124633/http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GLOSSARY/5PILLARS.HTM |archive-date=2010-12-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The literal meaning of the word ''zakatzakāh'' is "to purify", "to develop" and "cause to grow". ''ZakatZakāh'' is the amount of money that every Muslim, male or female, who is an adult, mentally stable, free, and financially able, has to pay to support specific categories of people. According to ''[[shariah]]'', it is an act of [[worship]]. Possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need. This cutting back, like the pruning of plants, balances and encourages new growth. Various rules are attached but, in general terms, it is obligatory to give 2.5% of one's savings and business revenue and 5–10% of one's harvest to the poor. Possible recipients include the destitute, the [[working poor]], those who are unable to pay off their own debts, stranded travelers and others who need assistance, with the general principle of ''zakat'' always being that the rich should pay it to the poor. One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God and wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

A pious person may also give alms as much as he or she pleases as ''sadaqahṣadaqah'', and does so preferably in secret. Although this word can be translated as 'voluntary charity', it has a wider meaning, as illustrated in the [[hadith]]s:

In [[Judaism]], ''[[tzedakah]]'', a [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] term literally meaning righteousness but commonly used to signify "charity",<ref>{{cite book |last1=Donin |first1=Hayim Halevy, Rabbi |title=To Be A Jew |publisher=Basic Books |location=New York |year=1972 |page=48}}</ref> refers to the religious obligation to do what is right and just.<ref name="JTauber">[http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1079/jewish/The-Myth-of-Charity.htm Tzedakah vs The Myth of Charity] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313154027/http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1079/jewish/The-Myth-of-Charity.htm |date=2012-03-13 }}; by [[Yanki Tauber]]; Retrieved 03-11-2012.</ref>{{efn|name=YTauber}} In the Greek [[Septuagint]] ''tzedakah'' was sometimes translated as {{lang|grc|ἐλεημοσύνη}}, "almsgiving".<ref>As per [[Wilhelm Gesenius|Gesenius]] Lexicon; "Deuterony 6:25 καὶ ἐλεημοσύνη ἔσται...", "... derived from the Greek ἐλεημοσύνη (mercifulness), used by Greek-speaking Jews to denote almost exclusively the offering of charity to the needy, from a feeling of both compassion and righteousness (ẓedaḳah). (See [[LXX]]. (note: Septuagint) on Prov. xxi. 21, and Dan. iv. 24.)"</ref><ref name="Alms">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Kohler |first=Kaufmann |title=Alms |url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1295-alms |workencyclopedia=1906 Jewish Encyclopedia |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref>