Alms: Difference between revisions

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 [[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>

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: