almsgiving

Everyday

1. (church) Giving money, food or help to poor people, especially as a religious duty. tree →
2. Charity given out of kindness to people in need. tree →

In the lessons

Met in religious education: Christians, Muslims and others believe giving to the poor pleases God. In Lent, Christians often practise prayer, fasting and almsgiving. In Islam, giving to the poor (zakat) is one of the Five Pillars. Phrases: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Examples

• During Lent, our church encourages prayer, fasting and almsgiving. tree →
• Almsgiving means sharing what you have with people who are poor. tree →
• The children collected tins for the food bank as an act of almsgiving. tree →
• Many faiths teach that almsgiving is a duty. tree →
• In the story, the rich man was praised for his almsgiving. tree →
• Almsgiving should be done quietly, Jesus taught, not to show off. tree →
• The monks lived simply and spent their money on almsgiving. tree →

Note

Uncountable. From "alms" (old word for gifts to the poor; pronounced "ahmz", the l is silent) + giving. Old-fashioned and religious in tone; in everyday talk people say "giving to charity".

In Jewish tradition

Here it means giving to the poor, which Daniel urges King Nebuchadnezzar to do in place of his sins.

Interpretation. Jewish tradition calls this kind of giving tzedakah, which means righteousness, because helping the poor is seen as a duty and not only kindness. It is thought to help turn away harsh decrees.

Examples

• Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by almsgiving, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of thy prosperity.' (Writings DAN.4.24, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable. From "alms" (old word for gifts to the poor; pronounced "ahmz", the l is silent) + giving. Old-fashioned and religious in tone; in everyday talk people say "giving to charity".