In many religious traditions, giving to the poor is not optional charity but a required act of devotion. Alms are those gifts of money, food, or goods offered as a religious duty. The practice appears in Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and other faiths.

Islamic zakat is a formalized annual obligation calculated on wealth. Christian teachings urge care for the hungry and naked as service to God. Buddhist dana cultivates generosity and reduces attachment. The recipient is often understood to provide the giver with a spiritual opportunity rather than merely a material need.

Almsgiving can be spontaneous or institutionalized through religious organizations. Critics sometimes note the risk of dependency or of substituting donations for systemic justice. Practitioners reply that the habit of giving shapes character and acknowledges shared human vulnerability. In every case the act links material resources to spiritual intention.

• Charitable giving performed as religious duty
• Found across major world religions
• May be voluntary or formally required
• Intended to benefit both giver and recipient