![Thorma Alms](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Thorma_Alms.jpg)
Alms (, ) are money, food, or other material goods donated to people living in
poverty
Poverty is the state of having few material possessions or little income. Poverty can have diverse social, economic, and political causes and effects. When evaluating poverty in ...
. Providing alms is often considered an act of
virtue
Virtue ( la, virtus) is moral excellence. A virtue is a trait or quality that is deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. In other words, it is a behavior that shows high moral standard ...
or
charity
Charity may refer to:
Giving
* Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons
* Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing
* Ch ...
. The act of providing alms is called almsgiving, and it is a widespread practice in a number of different
religion
Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, ...
s and cultures.
Etymology
The word ''alms'' comes from the
Old English
Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...
', ', which comes from
Late Latin
Late Latin ( la, Latinitas serior) is the scholarly name for the form of Literary Latin of late antiquity.Roberts (1996), p. 537. English dictionary definitions of Late Latin date this period from the , and continuing into the 7th century in t ...
', from
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
' ("pity, alms"), from , ' ("merciful"), from , ', meaning "pity or mercy".
Buddhism
''Dāna'' in Buddhism
In
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
, both "almsgiving" and "giving" are called "
dāna
Dāna (Devanagari: दान, International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: Dānam) is a Sanskrit and Pali word that connotes the virtue of generosity, charity (practice), charity or giving of alms in Indian philosophies.
In Hindui ...
" (Pāli). Such giving is one of the three elements of the path of practice as formulated by the
Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism.
According to Buddhist tradition, he was ...
for
laypeople. This path of practice for laypeople is
dāna
Dāna (Devanagari: दान, International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: Dānam) is a Sanskrit and Pali word that connotes the virtue of generosity, charity (practice), charity or giving of alms in Indian philosophies.
In Hindui ...
,
sīla
Buddhist ethics are traditionally based on what Buddhists view as the enlightened perspective of the Buddha. The term for ethics or morality used in Buddhism is ''Śīla'' or ''sīla'' (Pāli). ''Śīla'' in Buddhism is one of three sections of ...
, and
bhāvanā
''Bhāvanā'' (Pali;Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 503, entry for "Bhāvanā," retrieved 9 December 2008 from "U. Chicago" a Sanskrit: भावना, also ''bhāvanā''Monier-Williams (1899), p. 755, see "Bhāvana" and "Bhāvanā", retriev ...
.
Generosity towards other sentient beings is also emphasized in Mahayana as one of the perfections (
paramita). As shown in
Lama Tsong Khapa's 'The Abbreviated Points of the Graded Path' ():
The giving of alms is the beginning of one's journey to
Nirvana
( , , ; sa, निर्वाण} ''nirvāṇa'' ; Pali: ''nibbāna''; Prakrit: ''ṇivvāṇa''; literally, "blown out", as in an oil lampRichard Gombrich, ''Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benāres to Modern Colombo.' ...
( pi, nibbana). In practice, one can give anything with or without thought for
Nibbana
Nirvana (Sanskrit: निर्वाण, '; Pali: ') is "blowing out" or "quenching" of the activities of the worldly mind and its related suffering. Nirvana is the goal of the Hinayana and Theravada Buddhist paths, and marks the soteriologica ...
. This would lead to
faith
Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as "belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion".
Religious people often ...
( pi, saddha), one
key power ( pi, bala) that one should generate within oneself for the
Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism.
According to Buddhist tradition, he was ...
,
Dhamma
Dharma (; sa, धर्म, dharma, ; pi, dhamma, italic=yes) is a key concept with multiple meanings in Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others. Although there is no direct single-word translation for ''d ...
, and
Sangha
Sangha is a Sanskrit word used in many Indian languages, including Pali meaning "association", "assembly", "company" or "community"; Sangha is often used as a surname across these languages. It was historically used in a political context t ...
.
According to the
Pali canon
The Pāli Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli language. It is the most complete extant early Buddhist canon. It derives mainly from the Tamrashatiya school.
During th ...
:
Intentions for giving
The intentions behind giving play an important role in developing spiritual qualities. The
suttas
Buddhist texts are those religious texts which belong to the Buddhist tradition. The earliest Buddhist texts were not committed to writing until some centuries after the death of Gautama Buddha. The oldest surviving Buddhist manuscripts a ...
record various motives for exercising generosity. For example, the Anguttara Nikaya (A.iv, 236) enumerates the following eight motives:
# One gives with annoyance, or as a way of offending the recipient, or with the idea of insulting him.
# Fear also can motivate a person to make an offering.
# One gives in return for a favor done to oneself in the past.
# One also may give with the hope of getting a similar favor for oneself in the future.
# One gives because giving is considered good.
# "I cook, they do not cook. It is not proper for me who cooks not to give to those who do not cook." (i.e. Some give because they are able to do what others cannot.)
# Some give alms to gain a good reputation.
# Still others give alms to adorn and beautify the mind.
In support of Buddhist monks
![Almsbowl2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Almsbowl2.jpg)
In Buddhism, alms or almsgiving is the respect given by a
lay Buddhist to a Buddhist
monk
A monk (, from el, μοναχός, ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a person who practices religious asceticism by monastic living, either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decides to dedica ...
,
nun
A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 599. The term is o ...
, spiritually-developed person or other sentient being. It is not charity as presumed by Western interpreters. It is closer to a symbolic connection to the
spiritual realm and to show humbleness and respect in the presence of the secular society. The act of almsgiving connects the human to the monk or nun and what he/she represents. As the Buddha has stated:
In
Theravada
''Theravāda'' () ( si, ථේරවාදය, my, ထေရဝါဒ, th, เถรวาท, km, ថេរវាទ, lo, ເຖຣະວາດ, pi, , ) is the most commonly accepted name of Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school' ...
Buddhism, nuns (
Pāli
Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pāli Canon'' or ''Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of ''Theravāda'' Buddhism ...
: ''
bhikkhunis'') and monks (
Pāli
Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pāli Canon'' or ''Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of ''Theravāda'' Buddhism ...
: ''
bhikkhu
A ''bhikkhu'' (Pali: भिक्खु, Sanskrit: भिक्षु, ''bhikṣu'') is an ordained male in Buddhist monasticism. Male and female monastics ("nun", ''bhikkhunī'', Sanskrit ''bhikṣuṇī'') are members of the Sangha (Buddhist ...
s'') practice ''
Takuhatsu
is a Japanese term used to refer to the Buddhist monastic almsround.
Theravāda
In Theravāda Buddhism, ''takuhatsu'' is referred to by the Pāli term ''piṇḍacāra'' (). Monks or nuns on ''piṇḍacāra'' go around town on foot with thei ...
'' (') where they collect food ('). This is often perceived as allowing the laypeople to make merit (Pāli: ''
puñña''). Money cannot be accepted by a Theravadan Buddhist monk or nun in place of or in addition to food, as the
Patimokkha training rules make it an offense worth forfeiture and confession.
In countries that follow
Mahayana
''Mahāyāna'' (; "Great Vehicle") is a term for a broad group of Buddhist traditions, texts, philosophies, and practices. Mahāyāna Buddhism developed in India (c. 1st century BCE onwards) and is considered one of the three main existing bra ...
Buddhism, the practice of ''
Takuhatsu
is a Japanese term used to refer to the Buddhist monastic almsround.
Theravāda
In Theravāda Buddhism, ''takuhatsu'' is referred to by the Pāli term ''piṇḍacāra'' (). Monks or nuns on ''piṇḍacāra'' go around town on foot with thei ...
'' has mostly died out. In China, Korea, and Japan, local cultures resisted the idea of giving food to 'begging' clerics, and there was no tradition of gaining 'merit' by donating to practitioners. After periods of persecution, monasteries were situated in remote mountain areas; the distance between the monastery and the nearest towns made this practice impossible. In Japan, the practice of a weekly or monthly
Takuhatsu
is a Japanese term used to refer to the Buddhist monastic almsround.
Theravāda
In Theravāda Buddhism, ''takuhatsu'' is referred to by the Pāli term ''piṇḍacāra'' (). Monks or nuns on ''piṇḍacāra'' go around town on foot with thei ...
replaced the daily round. In the Himalayan countries, the large number of ''bhikkhus'' would have made an alms round a heavy burden on families. Competition with other religions for support also made daily practice difficult and even dangerous; the first Buddhist monks in the
Silla
Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms of K ...
dynasty of Korea were said to be beaten due to their minority at the time.
Christianity
![Codex Tennenbach 4 017r](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Codex_Tennenbach_4_017r.jpg)
In Christianity, the giving of alms is viewed as an act of
charity
Charity may refer to:
Giving
* Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons
* Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing
* Ch ...
. In the
Apostolic age
Christianity in the 1st century covers the formative history of Christianity from the start of the ministry of Jesus (–29 AD) to the death of the last of the Twelve Apostles () and is thus also known as the Apostolic Age. Early Christianity ...
,
Christians
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
were taught that giving alms was an expression of love. Such care for the poor was to be understood as love for God, who, in the person of
Jesus Christ
Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...
, sacrificed himself for the salvation of believers.
In nearly all Christian denominations, money is donated to support the church's financial needs and its ministry to the less fortunate. In some churches, the alms are placed near to the
altar
An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, churches, and other places of worship. They are used particularly in paga ...
to symbolize that the offering belongs to God and to represent the unity of the congregation.
In Western Christianity
![Collecting the Offering in a Scottish Kirk by John Phillip YORAG 384](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Collecting_the_Offering_in_a_Scottish_Kirk_by_John_Phillip_YORAG_384.jpg)
The
offertory
The offertory (from Medieval Latin ''offertorium'' and Late Latin ''offerre'') is the part of a Eucharistic service when the bread and wine for use in the service are ceremonially placed on the altar.
A collection of alms (offerings) from the c ...
is the traditional moment in the
Roman Catholic Mass
The Mass is the central liturgical service of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church, in which bread and wine are consecrated and become the body and blood of Christ. As defined by the Church at the Council of Trent, in the Mass, "the same Christ ...
,
Lutheran Divine Service, and
Anglican Eucharist, when alms are collected.
Baptist
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...
s and Methodists, among other denominations, collect
tithe
A tithe (; from Old English: ''teogoþa'' "tenth") is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash or cheques or more r ...
s and offerings (alms) during the offertory in church services. A tithe, the first tenth of one's income, is seen as what is owed to God, while an offering (alms) includes anything contributed beyond that.
Some fellowships practice regular giving for special purposes called "love offerings" for the poor, destitute or victims of catastrophic loss such as home fires or medical expenses. Traditionally, deacons and deaconesses are responsible for distributing these gifts among
widow
A widow (female) or widower (male) is a person whose spouse has Death, died.
Terminology
The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed ''widowhood''. An archaic term for a widow is "relict," literally "someone left over". This word ...
s, orphans, and others in need. Many Christians support a plethora of charitable organizations, not all of which claim a Christian religious affiliation. Many American educational and medical institutions were founded by Christian fellowships giving alms.
In Eastern Christianity
In the
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Eastern Orthodox Church, also called the Orthodox Church, is the second-largest Christian church, with approximately 220 million baptized members. It operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops via ...
and the
Eastern Catholic Churches
The Eastern Catholic Churches or Oriental Catholic Churches, also called the Eastern-Rite Catholic Churches, Eastern Rite Catholicism, or simply the Eastern Churches, are 23 Eastern Christian autonomous (''sui iuris'') particular churches of th ...
, 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
The narthex is an architectural element typical of early Christian and Byzantine basilicas and churches consisting of the entrance or lobby area, located at the west end of the nave, opposite the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex ...
or passing it unobtrusively during the service is not uncommon. In
Eastern Orthodox theology
Eastern Orthodox theology is the theology particular to the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is characterized by monotheistic Trinitarianism, belief in the Incarnation of the essentially divine Logos or only-begotten Son of God, a balancing of ca ...
, almsgiving is an important part of the spiritual life, and
fasting
Fasting is the abstention from eating and sometimes drinking. From a purely physiological context, "fasting" may refer to the metabolic status of a person who has not eaten overnight (see " Breakfast"), or to the metabolic state achieved after ...
should always be accompanied by increased prayer and almsgiving. Almsgiving in the name of the deceased also frequently accompanies
prayer for the dead
Religions with the belief in a future judgment, a resurrection of the dead or a purgatory often offer prayers on behalf of the dead to God.
Buddhism
For most funerals that follow the tradition of Chinese Buddhism, common practices include chantin ...
. Those whose financial circumstances do not permit the giving of monetary alms may give alms in other ways, such as
intercessory prayer
Intercession or intercessory prayer is the act of praying to a deity on behalf of others, or asking a saint in heaven to pray on behalf of oneself or for others.
The Apostle Paul's exhortation to Timothy specified that intercession prayers s ...
and
acts of mercy
Works of mercy (sometimes known as acts of mercy) are practices considered meritorious in Christian ethics.
The practice is popular in the Catholic Church as an act of both penance and charity. In addition, the Methodist church teaches that t ...
.
In the New Testament
In addition, private acts of charity are a duty and only considered virtuous only if not done for others to admire:
Jesus places the primary focus on the motives behind the outward and inward giving of alms, which should be love:
![Gospel of Luke Chapter 21-4 (Bible Illustrations by Sweet Media)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Gospel_of_Luke_Chapter_21-4_%28Bible_Illustrations_by_Sweet_Media%29.jpg)
Jesus contrasts the giving of the rich and the poor:
Giving should be out of love and not out of duty:
Hinduism
''Dāna'' in Hinduism
In Hinduism, ' ( sa, दान) is an ancient concept of almsgiving dating to the
Vedic period
The Vedic period, or the Vedic age (), is the period in the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age of the history of India when the Vedic literature, including the Vedas (ca. 1300–900 BCE), was composed in the northern Indian subcontinent, betw ...
of Hinduism.
[Shah et al. (2013), Soulful Corporations: A Values-Based Perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, , page 125, Quote: "The concept of Daana (charity) dates back to the Vedic period. The Rig Veda enjoins charity as a duty and responsibility of every citizen."] ' has been defined in traditional texts as any action of relinquishing the ownership of what one considered or identified as one's own, and investing the same in a recipient without expecting anything in return.
[Krishnan & Manoj (2008), Giving as a theme in the Indian psychology of values, in Handbook of Indian Psychology (Editors: Rao et al.), Cambridge University Press, , pages 361-382] While ' is typically given to one person or family, Hinduism also discusses charity or giving aimed at public benefit, which is sometimes called ''utsarga''. This aims at larger projects such as building a rest house, school, investing in drinking water or an irrigation well, planting trees, and building care facilities, among others. The practice of begging for alms is called ''
bhiksha
Bhiksha ( sa, भिक्षा, ''bhikṣā''; pi, 𑀪𑀺𑀓𑁆𑀔𑀸, ''bhikkhā'') is a term used in Indic religions, such as Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism, to refer to the act of alms or asking. Commonly, it is also used to refer to f ...
'' ( sa, भिक्षा).
The 11th century
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
historian
Abū Rayḥān al-Bīrūnī
Abu Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni (973 – after 1050) commonly known as al-Biruni, was a Khwarazmian Iranian in scholar and polymath during the Islamic Golden Age. He has been called variously the "founder of Indology", "Father of Co ...
, who visited and lived in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
for 16 years beginning in about 1017 CE, mentions the practice of charity and almsgiving among Hindus as he observed during his stay. He wrote, "It is obligatory with them (Hindus) every day to give alms as much as possible."
[Alberuni's India (v. 2)]
Chapter LXVII, On Alms and how a man must spend what he earns
, Columbia University Libraries, London : Kegan Paul, Trübner & Co., (1910), pages 149-150
Almsgiving in Hinduism is considered a noble deed to be done without expectation of any return from those who receive the charity.
[ Some texts reason, referring to the nature of social life, that charity is a form of good karma that affects one's future circumstances and environment, and that good charitable deeds leads to good future life because of the reciprocity principle.][ Other Hindu texts, such as ''Vyasa Samhita'', state that reciprocity may be innate in human nature and social functions but dāna is a virtue in itself, as doing good lifts the nature of one who gives. The texts do not recommend charity to unworthy recipients or where charity may harm or encourage injury to or by the recipient. ' is thus a ]dharmic
Dharma (; sa, धर्म, dharma, ; pi, dhamma, italic=yes) is a key concept with multiple meanings in Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others. Although there is no direct single-word translation for '' ...
act, requires an idealistic-normative approach, and has spiritual and philosophical context.[ Some medieval era authors state that ' is best done with '' śraddhā'' (faith), which is defined as being in good will, cheerful, welcoming the recipient of the charity and giving without ''anasuya'' (finding faults in the recipient).][ Kohler states that these scholars of Hinduism suggest that charity is most effective when it is done with delight, a sense of "unquestioning hospitality", where the ''dāna'' ignores the short term weaknesses as well as the circumstances of the recipient and takes a long-term view.][P Bilimoria et al. (2007), Dana as a Moral Category, in Indian Ethics: Classical traditions and contemporary challenges, Volume 1, , pages 196-197 with footnotes]
Institutional ''dāna''
''Satrams'', also called ''Dharamsala'' or ''Chathrams'' in parts of India, have been one means of almsgiving in Hinduism. ''Satrams'' are shelters (rest houses) for travelers and the poor, with many serving water and free food. These were usually established along the roads connecting major Hindu temple
A Hindu temple, or ''mandir'' or ''koil'' in Indian languages, is a house, seat and body of divinity for Hindus. It is a structure designed to bring human beings and gods together through worship, sacrifice, and devotion.; Quote: "The Hind ...
sites in south Asia, as well as near major temples. Hindu temple
A Hindu temple, or ''mandir'' or ''koil'' in Indian languages, is a house, seat and body of divinity for Hindus. It is a structure designed to bring human beings and gods together through worship, sacrifice, and devotion.; Quote: "The Hind ...
s have also served as institutions for almsgiving.[ The ''dāna'' the temples received from Hindus were used to feed people in distress as well as fund public projects such as irrigation and land reclamation.]Burton Stein
Burton Stein (1926 – April 26, 1996) was an American historian, whose area of specialization was India.
Life and career
Stein was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois and served in the Second World War, before commencing tertiary study at the n ...
, The Economic Function of a Medieval South Indian Temple, The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 19 (February, 1960), pp 163-76
Forms of ''dāna''
Forms of almsgiving in Hinduism include:
# ''go dāna'', the donation of a cow
# ''bhu dāna'' (), the donation of land
# ''vidya dāna'' or ''jñāna
In Indian philosophy and religions, ' ( sa, ज्ञान}, ) is "knowledge".
The idea of ''jñāna'' centers on a cognitive event which is recognized when experienced. It is knowledge inseparable from the total experience of reality, especial ...
dāna'' (, ), the giving of knowledge and skills
# ''aushadhā dāna'', the giving of care for the sick and diseased
# ''abhay dāna'', the giving of freedom from fear (such as asylum or protection for someone facing imminent injury)
# ''anna dāna'' (), the giving of food to the poor, needy, and all visitors
Between giving food and giving knowledge, Hindu texts suggest the gift of knowledge is superior.
In the Vedas
The Rigveda
The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' ( ', from ' "praise" and ' "knowledge") is an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canonical Hindu texts (''śruti'') known as the Vedas. Only one Sh ...
has the earliest discussion of ' in the Vedas
upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''.
The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the ...
and offers reasons for the virtue of almsgiving.[R Hindery, Comparative ethics in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, The Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, Vol 2, Number 1, page 105]
In the Upanishads
The early Upanishads
The Upanishads (; sa, उपनिषद् ) are late Vedic Sanskrit texts that supplied the basis of later Hindu philosophy.Wendy Doniger (1990), ''Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism'', 1st Edition, University of Chicago Press, , ...
, those composed before 500 BCE, discuss the virtue of almsgiving. For example, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
The ''Brihadaranyaka Upanishad'' ( sa, बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद्, ) is one of the Principal Upanishads and one of the first Upanishadic scriptures of Hinduism. A key scripture to various schools of Hinduism, the ''Bri ...
states in verse 5.2.3 that three characteristics of a good, developed person are self-restraint ('' dama''), compassion or love for all sentient life (''daya''), and charity (').[PV Kane]
Samanya Dharma
History of Dharmasastra, Vol. 2, Part 1, page 5 Chandogya Upanishad
The ''Chandogya Upanishad'' (Sanskrit: , IAST: ''Chāndogyopaniṣad'') is a Sanskrit text embedded in the Chandogya Brahmana of the Sama Veda of Hinduism.Patrick Olivelle (2014), ''The Early Upanishads'', Oxford University Press; , pp. 166-16 ...
, similarly, states in Book III that a virtuous life requires ''tapas
A tapa () is an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine. Tapas can be combined to make a full meal, and can be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as ''chopitos'', which are battered, fried baby squid, or patatas bravas). In some ...
'' (meditation, asceticism), ''dāna
Dāna (Devanagari: दान, International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: Dānam) is a Sanskrit and Pali word that connotes the virtue of generosity, charity (practice), charity or giving of alms in Indian philosophies.
In Hindui ...
'' (charity), ''arjava
Ārjava () literally means sincerity, straightness and non-hypocrisy.J Sinha, , Volume 2, Motilal Banarsidas, , page 142 It is one of the ten Yamas in ancient Hindu and Jaina texts.KN Aiyar (1914), Thirty Minor Upanishads, Kessinger Publishing, ...
'' (straightforwardness, non-hypocrisy), ''ahimsa
Ahimsa (, IAST: ''ahiṃsā'', ) is the ancient Indian principle of nonviolence which applies to all living beings. It is a key virtue in most Indian religions: Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.Bajpai, Shiva (2011). The History of India ...
'' (non-violence, non-injury to all sentient beings) and ''satya
''Satya'' (Sanskrit: सत्य; IAST: ''satya)'' is a Sanskrit word loosely translated as truth, essence. A. A. Macdonell, ''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Asian Educational Services, , pp. 330–331 It also refers to a virtue in Indian relig ...
vacana'' (truthfulness).
In Mahabharata and Puranas
Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita (; sa, श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता, lit=The Song by God, translit=śrīmadbhagavadgītā;), often referred to as the Gita (), is a 700- verse Hindu scripture that is part of the epic ''Mahabharata'' (c ...
describes the right and wrong forms of in verses 17.20 through 17.22. The ''Adi Parva The ''Adi Parva'' or ''The Book of the Beginning'' is the first of eighteen books of the Mahabharata. "Adi" ( आदि, Ādi) is a Sanskrit word that means "first".
Adi Parva traditionally has 19 parts and 236 adhyayas (chapters). The critical edi ...
'' of the Hindu Epic ''Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
'' states in Chapter 91 that a person must first acquire wealth by honest means, then embark on charity; be hospitable to those who come to him; never inflict pain on any living being; and share a portion with others whatever he consumes. In the ''Vana Parva
The Vana Parva, also known as the "Book of the Forest", is the third of eighteen parvas in the Indian epic Mahabharata.van Buitenen, J.A.B. (1975) ''The Mahabharata: Book 2: The Book of the Assembly Hall; Book 3: The Book of the Forest''. Chicago, ...
'', Chapter 194, the Mahabharata recommends that one must "conquer the mean by charity, the untruthful by truth, the wicked by forgiveness, and dishonesty by honesty".
The ''Bhagavata Purana
The ''Bhagavata Purana'' ( sa, भागवतपुराण; ), also known as the ''Srimad Bhagavatam'', ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana'' or simply ''Bhagavata'', is one of Hinduism's eighteen great Puranas (''Mahapuranas''). Composed in Sa ...
'' discusses when is proper and when it is improper. In Book 8, Chapter 19, verse 36, it states that charity is inappropriate if it endangers and cripples modest livelihood of one's biological dependents or of one's own. Charity from surplus income above that required for modest living is recommended in the Puranas
Purana (; sa, , '; literally meaning "ancient, old"Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (1995 Edition), Article on Puranas, , page 915) is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics, particularly about legends an ...
.
Islam
In Islam, the concept of charitable giving is generally divided into voluntary giving, ''sadaqah
or Sadqah ( ar, صدقة , "charity", "benevolence", plural ' ) in the modern context has come to signify "voluntary charity". According to the Quran, the word means voluntary offering, whose amount is at the will of the "benefactor".
Etymolo ...
'' (), and an obligatory practice, the ''zakat
Zakat ( ar, زكاة; , "that which purifies", also Zakat al-mal , "zakat on wealth", or Zakah) is a form of almsgiving, often collected by the Muslim Ummah. It is considered in Islam as a religious obligation, and by Quranic ranking, is ne ...
'' (). ''Zakat'' is governed by a specific set of rules within Islamic jurisprudence
''Fiqh'' (; ar, فقه ) is Islamic jurisprudence. Muhammad-> Companions-> Followers-> Fiqh.
The commands and prohibitions chosen by God were revealed through the agency of the Prophet in both the Quran and the Sunnah (words, deeds, and e ...
and is intended to fulfill a well-defined set of theological and social requirements. ''Sadaqah'' is possibly a better translation of Christian influenced formulations of the notion of 'alms' for that reason, though ''zakat'' plays a much larger role within Islamic charity.
''Zakat''
''Zakat'' is the third of the five pillars of Islam
The Five Pillars of Islam (' ; also ' "pillars of the religion") are fundamental practices in Islam, considered to be obligatory acts of worship for all Muslims. They are summarized in the famous hadith of Gabriel. The Sunni and Shia agree on ...
. The literal meaning of the word ''zakat'' is "to purify", "to develop" and "cause to grow". ''Zakat'' 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
Sharia (; ar, شريعة, sharīʿa ) is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition. It is derived from the religious precepts of Islam and is based on the sacred scriptures of Islam, particularly the Quran and the H ...
'', it is an act of worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. It may involve one or more of activities such as veneration, adoration, praise, and praying. For many, worship is not about an emotion, it is more about a recognition ...
. 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
The working poor are working people whose incomes fall below a given poverty line due to low-income jobs and low familial household income. These are people who spend at least 27 weeks in a year working or looking for employment, but remain und ...
, 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.
This category of people is defined in At-Tawbah
At-Tawbah ( ar, ٱلتوبة, ; The Repentance), also known as Bara'ah ( ar, براءة, ; Repudiation), is the ninth chapter (''sūrah'') of the Quran. It contains 129 verses ('' āyāt'') and is one of the last Medinan surahs.
This Surah is ...
:
The obligatory nature of ''zakat'' is firmly established in the Qur'an, the ''sunnah
In Islam, , also spelled ( ar, سنة), are the traditions and practices of the Islamic prophet Muhammad that constitute a model for Muslims to follow. The sunnah is what all the Muslims of Muhammad's time evidently saw and followed and passed ...
'' (or ''hadith
Ḥadīth ( or ; ar, حديث, , , , , , , literally "talk" or "discourse") or Athar ( ar, أثر, , literally "remnant"/"effect") refers to what the majority of Muslims believe to be a record of the words, actions, and the silent approval ...
''), and the consensus of the companions and the Muslim scholars. Allah states in At-Tawbah
At-Tawbah ( ar, ٱلتوبة, ; The Repentance), also known as Bara'ah ( ar, براءة, ; Repudiation), is the ninth chapter (''sūrah'') of the Quran. It contains 129 verses ('' āyāt'') and is one of the last Medinan surahs.
This Surah is ...
:
Muslims of each era have agreed upon the obligatory nature of paying ''zakat'' from their gold and silver, and from other kinds of currency.
''Nisab''
''Zakat'' is obligatory when a certain amount of money, called the ''nisab'' (or minimum amount), is reached or exceeded. Zakat is not obligatory if the amount owned is less than this ''nisab''. The ''nisab'' of gold and golden currency is 20 ''mithqal'', or approximately 85 grams of pure gold. One ''mithqal'' is approximately 4.25 grams. The ''nisab'' of silver and silver currency is 200 dirhams, which is approximately 595 grams of pure silver. The ''nisab'' of other kinds of money and currency is to be scaled to that of gold; the ''nisab'' of money is equivalent to the price of 85 grams of 999-type (pure) gold on the day in which ''zakat'' is paid.
''Zakat'' is obligatory after the money has been in the control of its owner for the span of one lunar year; a lunar year is approximately 355 days. The owner then needs to pay 2.5% (or 1/40) of the money as ''zakat''. The owner should deduct any amount of money he or she borrowed from others, check if the rest reaches the necessary ''nisab'', then pay ''zakat'' for it.
If the owner had enough money to satisfy the ''nisab'' at the beginning of the year, but his wealth in any form increased, the owner needs to add the increase to the ''nisab'' amount owned at the beginning of the year and then pay ''zakat'', 2.5%, of the total at the end of the lunar year. There are minor differences between ''fiqh'' schools on how this is to be calculated. Each Muslim calculates his or her own ''zakat'' individually. For most purposes, this involves the payment each year of two and a half percent of one's capital.
''Sadaqah''
A pious person may also give alms as much as he or she pleases as ''sadaqah'', 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
Ḥadīth ( or ; ar, حديث, , , , , , , literally "talk" or "discourse") or Athar ( ar, أثر, , literally "remnant"/"effect") refers to what the majority of Muslims believe to be a record of the words, actions, and the silent approval ...
s:
Judaism
''Tzedakah''
In Judaism
Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in the ...
, ''tzedakah
''Tzedakah'' or ''Ṣedaqah'' ( he, צדקה ) is a Hebrew word meaning "righteousness", but commonly used to signify ''charity''. This concept of "charity" differs from the modern Western understanding of "charity". The latter is typically un ...
'', a Hebrew
Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
term literally meaning righteousness but commonly used to signify "charity", refers to the religious obligation to do what is right and just.[Tzedakah vs The Myth of Charity](_blank)
; by Yanki Tauber; Retrieved 03-11-2012. In the Greek Septuagint
The Greek Old Testament, or Septuagint (, ; from the la, septuaginta, lit=seventy; often abbreviated ''70''; in Roman numerals, LXX), is the earliest extant Greek translation of books from the Hebrew Bible. It includes several books beyond th ...
''tzedakah'' was sometimes translated as , "almsgiving".
In Judaism, ''tzedakah'' is seen as one of the greatest deeds that a person can do. ''Tzedakah'', along with prayer and repentance, is regarded as ameliorating the consequences of bad acts. Contemporary ''tzedakah'' is regarded as a continuation of the Biblical ''Maaser Ani
The poor tithe, or poor man's tithe (Hebrew: ''ma'sar ani''), also referred to as the pauper's tithe or the third tithe, is a triennial tithe of one's produce, required in Jewish law. It requires that one tenth of produce grown in the third and si ...
'', or poor-tithe, as well as Biblical practices including permitting the poor to glean the corners of a field, harvest during the ''Shmita
The sabbath year (shmita; he, שמיטה, literally "release"), also called the sabbatical year or ''shǝvi'it'' (, literally "seventh"), or "Sabbath of The Land", is the seventh year of the seven-year agricultural cycle mandated by the Torah ...
'' (sabbatical year), and other practices. Jewish farmers are commanded to leave the corners of their fields for the starving to harvest for food and are forbidden to pick up any grain that has been dropped during harvesting, as such food shall be left for the starving as well.
In the Mishneh Torah
The ''Mishneh Torah'' ( he, מִשְׁנֵה תּוֹרָה, , repetition of the Torah), also known as ''Sefer Yad ha-Hazaka'' ( he, ספר יד החזקה, , book of the strong hand, label=none), is a code of Rabbinic Jewish religious law (''h ...
, Chapter 10:7–14, Maimonides
Musa ibn Maimon (1138–1204), commonly known as Maimonides (); la, Moses Maimonides and also referred to by the acronym Rambam ( he, רמב״ם), was a Sephardic Jewish philosopher who became one of the most prolific and influential Torah ...
lists eight "laws about giving to poor people" ('), listed in order from most to least righteous, with the most righteous form being allowing an individual to become self-sustaining and capable of giving others charity:
# Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant.
# Giving when neither party knows the other's identity.
# Giving when you know the recipient's identity, but the recipient doesn't know your identity.
# Giving when you do not know the recipient's identity, but the recipient knows your identity.
# Giving before being asked.
# Giving after being asked.
# Giving less than you should, but giving it cheerfully.
# Giving begrudgingly.
Mandaeism
''Zidqa''
In Mandaeism
Mandaeism (Classical Mandaic: ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀࡉࡉࡀ ; Arabic: المندائيّة ), sometimes also known as Nasoraeanism or Sabianism, is a Gnostic, monotheistic and ethnic religion. Its adherents, the Mandaeans, revere Adam, Abel, S ...
, ''zidqa'' refers to alms or almsgiving.[Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.] Mandaean priest
A Mandaean priest or ''Rabbi'' refers to an ordained religious leader in Mandaeism.
Overview
All priests must undergo lengthy ordination ceremonies, beginning with tarmida initiation. Mandaean religious leaders and copyists of religious texts hol ...
s receive regular financial contributions from laypeople.
The Mandaic Mandaic may refer to:
* Mandaic language
* Mandaic alphabet
** Mandaic (Unicode block)
Mandaic is a Unicode block containing characters of the Mandaic script used for writing the historic Eastern Aramaic, also called Classical Mandaic, and the m ...
term ''zidqa brika
In Mandaeism, the zidqa brika (or ''zidqa brikha''; myz, ࡆࡉࡃࡒࡀ ࡁࡓࡉࡊࡀ, lit=blessed oblation) is a type of ritual meal blessed by Mandaean priests.Segelberg, Eric. 1977. "''Zidqa Brika'' and the Mandæan Problem. In ''Proceedin ...
'' (literally "blessed oblation
Oblation, meaning "the act of offering; an instance of offering" and by extension "the thing offered" (Late Latin ''oblatio'', from ''offerre'', ''oblatum'', to offer), is a term used, particularly in ecclesiastical use, for a solemn offering, s ...
") refers to a ritual meal blessed by priests. An early self-appellation for Mandaeans is ''bhiri zidqa'', meaning "elect of righteousness".
See also
Notes
References
Bibliography
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New York Times
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The Buddhist Publication Society (BPS) is a publishing house with charitable status whose objective is to disseminate the teaching of Gautama Buddha. It was founded in Kandy, Sri Lanka in 1958 by two Sri Lankan lay Buddhists, A.S. Karunaratna and ...
. . Available on-line a
Budsas.org
* Pāli Text Society
The Pali Text Society is a text publication society founded in 1881 by Thomas William Rhys Davids "to foster and promote the study of Pāli texts".
Pāli is the language in which the texts of the Theravada school of Buddhism are preserved. The Pā ...
(PTS) (1921–1925). ''The Pāli Text Society's Pāli-English dictionary''. London: Chipstead. Available on-line a
Uchicago.edu
* Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1997). ''Tanhavagga: Craving'' ( Dhp XXIV). Available on-line a
Accesstoinsight.org
* Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (2001). ''The Group of Fours'' (Itivuttaka 4). Available on-line at
* Tsongkhapa
Tsongkhapa ('','' meaning: "the man from Tsongkha" or "the Man from Onion Valley", c. 1357–1419) was an influential Tibetan Buddhist monk, philosopher and tantric yogi, whose activities led to the formation of the Gelug school of Tibetan Budd ...
& Alexander Berzin (trans.) (2001). ''The Abbreviated Points of the Graded Path''. Available on-line a
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