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You are here : home > Values > Charity > Religious Significance of Charity

Religious Significance of Charity

WhatdodifferentreligionsinIndiasayaboutcharity?ReadontolearnaboutthesignificanceofcharityindifferentreligionslikeHinduism,Islam,Christianity,Jainism,BuddhismandSikhism.Charity,donationsoralmshaveagreatsignificanceineveryreligion.Charityisknownasoneofthegreatestdeedsofkindness.Althoughvalueslikedoingcharityareimbibedbyindividualsintheenvironmentinwhichtheyareraised,theirreligionhasanimportantroletoplay.Everyreligionteachesitsfollowersaboutcharity.LetusnowtakealookatwhattheimportantreligionsthatarefollowedinIndiahavetosayaboutcharity.SignificanceofCharityinDifferentReligionsLearnabouttheteachingsofdifferentreligionsaboutcharity.CharityinHinduismAccordingtoHinduism,charityisoneofthemostimportantKarmasthathumansmustdothroughouttheirlifetimes.Whenhumansdocharity,theyareactuallyhelpingsomeone.AccordingtoHinduismGodexistsineveryhumanbeingandthereforehelpingsomeoneisequaltoservingGod.InHinduismcharityisknownasDaanDharmaanditislabeledasoneofthegooddeedsthathumansmustdo.HinduismteachesitsfollowerstodocharityorDaanDharmaselflesslywithoutexpectinganythinginreturn.InthiswayindividualswhodoDaanDharmaautomaticallybecomeeligibleforblessings.Hinduismteachesitsfollowerstoprotectthefellowhumanbeings,animalsandnaturethroughcharity.Bydoingcharityhumanscanpurifytheirsoulsandwalkthepathofsalvationwhileenjoyingthegiftsoflife.CharityinIslamCharityinIslamisknownasZakat.AccordingtoIslamdoingZakatisoneoftheprimeresponsibilitiesofMuslims.ItisthesecondmostimportantresponsibilitywhichMuslimshavetofulfill,firstbeingofferingprayersorSalat.ZakatisthesecondpillaroutofthefivepillarsofIslam.AlltheMuslimswhomeetthecertaincriteriaofwealthshouldpracticeZakatastheirduty.TheamountofZakatdependsuponthevalueofanindividualspossessionswhichis2.5%or1/40ofthetotalwealthandsavingsaboveNisabwhichistheminimumamount.Zakatissaidtobegiventoneedy,poor,individualsunderdebtandtofreetheindividualsfromslaveryaswellastothetravelerswhoarestrandedduetodebt.CharityinChristianityAccordingtoChristianity,charityisaboutshowingmercy.Theonewhoshowsmercytofellowhumans,poorortheneedyfollowsthelawoftheAlmighty.InChristianity,charityisconsideredtobethehighestformoflove,thelovethatexistsbetweenhumanandGod.ThisloveisthenshoweredasablessingofAlmightyinformofcharityonfellowhumanbeingswhoareinneed,painortrouble.InChristiantheology,charityismarkedinthelifeofJesusChrist,histeachingsandhisdeath.AccordingtoSaintAugustine’sthoughtaboutcharity,itisavirtuethatuniteshumansbyGodwhentheiraffectionsareperfectlyorderedandtheylovehimbyit.CharityinJainismInJainismtheconceptofcharityisclassifiedinfourdifferenttypes.ItisknownasChaturvidhaDana.ThefirsttypeofcharityisAhara-Dana(donatingfood),thesecondtypeisAushadhi-Dana(donationofmedicine),thethirdtypeisAbhaya-Dana(donationofshelterorprotectionfromdangerorthreat)andthefourthtypeisShastra-Dana(donationofbooksorknowledge).Thisconcepthelpsthedonortounderstandthescopeofcharity.AccordingtoJainscripturesAbhaya-Danaorprotectionoflifeisthehighestformofcharityasitregardstheexistenceoflifeineveryformasdivineandhasarighttothriveandbeprotected.So,JainscripturesencourageitsfollowerstospeciallyfocusontheconceptAbhaya-Danaandspreadawarenessabouttheconcept‘LiveandLetLive’throughouttheglobe.CharityinBuddhismTheconceptofcharityinBuddhismislinkedtoperfection.DoingcharityaccordingtoBuddhismisoneoftheParamitasorperfections.Itemphasizesthatindividualsmustdocharitywithoutexpectinganything.Theindividualswhodocharityshouldnotevenexpectpraiseinreturn.Charitydoneevenwiththeintentiontofeelgoodisalsoconsideredascharitydonewithimpureintentions.Theonlyfocusofthegivershouldbethespiritualgrowthorspiritualmaturity.Buddhismencouragesitsfollowerstodocharityselflesslyordogoodtootherswithoutexpectinganythinginreturninordertogetclosertoenlightenment.InSutta-PitakaLordBuddhapreachedaboutsixtypesofpeoplewhoneedhelp,suchpeopleincludehermits,peoplelivingasperreligiousorders,beggars,homelessindividuals,theoneswhoareindebtandthetravelers. CharityinSikhismSikhismemphasizesequality.Itteachesitsfollowersthatitisnecessarytohelppeoplewhoarepoorandmalnourished.Thisreligionemphasizesservingmankindbydoingcharityordonatingmoney.Theconceptofcharityfocusesonfourmaintypesofdonations.ThefirstoneisknownasVandChhaknawhichmeanssharingwhatonehasearned.Thistypeofcharityhelpstoinstillcompassioninindividuals.ThesecondoneisSewawhichmeansthatanindividualmustofferservicewithoutexpectinganythinginreturn.ItcanbeanytypeofserviceanditcanbeofferedinallwalksofaSikh’slife.ThethirdoneisEqualitywhichencouragesSikhstotreateveryoneatparasthecreationofGod.ThefourthoneisWealthwhichshouldbeacquiredhonestlyandusedtobenefitothers.Theabovebeliefsaboutcharitythatprevailindifferentreligionssignifythatallthereligionsinthisworldencourageitsfollowerstodocharitableacts.Allthereligionshelpitsfollowerstounderstandthescopeaswelltruereasonbehindthecharitywhichisenlightenmentofthesoul.Thefactthateveryreligionemphasizesistobeselflessandkindactstogetclosertothealmighty.Whatisthesignificanceofcharityindifferentreligions?WhatdoestheconceptofcharityinBuddhismemphasizeon?WhatisZakat?Discusshere.

What do different religions in India say about charity? Read on to learn about the significance of charity in different religions like Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.

Charity, donations or alms have a great significance in every religion. Charity is known as one of the greatest deeds of kindness. Although values like doing charity are imbibed by individuals in the environment in which they are raised, their religion has an important role to play. Every religion teaches its followers about charity. Let us now take a look at what the important religions that are followed in India have to say about charity.

Significance of Charity in Different Religions

Learn about the teachings of different religions about charity.

Charity in Hinduism

According to Hinduism, charity is one of the most important Karmas that humans must do throughout their lifetimes. When humans do charity, they are actually helping someone. According to Hinduism God exists in every human being and therefore helping someone is equal to serving God. In Hinduism charity is known as Daan Dharma and it is labeled as one of the good deeds that humans must do. Hinduism teaches its followers to do charity or Daan Dharma selflessly without expecting anything in return. In this way individuals who do Daan Dharma automatically become eligible for blessings. Hinduism teaches its followers to protect the fellow human beings, animals and nature through charity. By doing charity humans can purify their souls and walk the path of salvation while enjoying the gifts of life.

Charity in Islam

Charity in Islam is known as Zakat. According to Islam doing Zakat is one of the prime responsibilities of Muslims. It is the second most important responsibility which Muslims have to fulfill, first being offering prayers or Salat. Zakat is the second pillar out of the five pillars of Islam. All the Muslims who meet the certain criteria of wealth should practice Zakat as their duty. The amount of Zakat depends upon the value of an individual's possessions which is 2.5% or 1/40 of the total wealth and savings above Nisab which is the minimum amount. Zakat is said to be given to needy, poor, individuals under debt and to free the individuals from slavery as well as to the travelers who are stranded due to debt.

Charity in Christianity

According to Christianity, charity is about showing mercy. The one who shows mercy to fellow humans, poor or the needy follows the law of the Almighty. In Christianity, charity is considered to be the highest form of love, the love that exists between human and God. This love is then showered as a blessing of Almighty in form of charity on fellow human beings who are in need, pain or trouble. In Christian theology, charity is marked in the life of Jesus Christ, his teachings and his death. According to Saint Augustine’s thought about charity, it is a virtue that unites humans by God when their affections are perfectly ordered and they love him by it.

Charity in Jainism

In Jainism the concept of charity is classified in four different types. It is known as Chaturvidha Dana. The first type of charity is Ahara-Dana (donating food), the second type is Aushadhi-Dana (donation of medicine), the third type is Abhaya-Dana (donation of shelter or protection from danger or threat) and the fourth type is Shastra-Dana (donation of books or knowledge). This concept helps the donor to understand the scope of charity. According to Jain scriptures Abhaya-Dana or protection of life is the highest form of charity as it regards the existence of life in every form as divine and has a right to thrive and be protected. So, Jain scriptures encourage its followers to specially focus on the concept Abhaya-Dana and spread awareness about the concept ‘Live and Let Live’ throughout the globe.

Charity in Buddhism

The concept of charity in Buddhism is linked to perfection. Doing charity according to Buddhism is one of the Paramitas or perfections. It emphasizes that individuals must do charity without expecting anything. The individuals who do charity should not even expect praise in return. Charity done even with the intention to feel good is also considered as charity done with impure intentions. The only focus of the giver should be the spiritual growth or spiritual maturity. Buddhism encourages its followers to do charity selflessly or do good to others without expecting anything in return in order to get closer to enlightenment. In Sutta-Pitaka Lord Buddha preached about six types of people who need help, such people include hermits, people living as per religious orders, beggars, homeless individuals, the ones who are in debt and the travelers.

Charity in Sikhism

Sikhism emphasizes equality. It teaches its followers that it is necessary to help people who are poor and malnourished. This religion emphasizes serving mankind by doing charity or donating money. The concept of charity focuses on four main types of donations. The first one is known as Vand Chhakna which means sharing what one has earned. This type of charity helps to instill compassion in individuals. The second one is Sewa which means that an individual must offer service without expecting anything in return. It can be any type of service and it can be offered in all walks of a Sikh’s life. The third one is Equality which encourages Sikhs to treat everyone at par as the creation of God. The fourth one is Wealth which should be acquired honestly and used to benefit others.

The above beliefs about charity that prevail in different religions signify that all the religions in this world encourage its followers to do charitable acts. All the religions help its followers to understand the scope as well true reason behind the charity which is enlightenment of the soul. The fact that every religion emphasizes is to be selfless and kind acts to get closer to the almighty.

What is the significance of charity in different religions? What does the concept of charity in Buddhism emphasize on? What is Zakat? Discuss here.