Religious Problem in India

Author(s): Annie Besant
Publisher: Theosophist Office Adyar

Page 37

ISLĀN
29
ainong the strangers and the poor and the orphans and the captives ; alms of grain and frnits, of merchandise, of cattle and money. "Alms are to be distributed only into the poor and the needy, and those who are emploved in collecting and distributing the same, and unto those whose hearts are reconciled, and for the redemption of captires, and unto those who are in debt and insolvent, and for the advancement of God's religion and unto the traveller." * “ And whatever alms re shall give, or whatever yow ve shall vow, rerily God knoweth it; but the ungodly shall have none to help them. If ye make your alms to appear, it is well ; but if ve conceal them and give them into the poor, this will be better for you, and will atone for your sins; and God is well informed of that which ve do. The direction of them belongeth not unto thee, but God directeth whom He pleaseth. The good that ye shall give in alms shall redound unto yourselves; but we shall not give wless out of desire of seeing the face of God.” † And how beantiful is the following, from a sermon of the Prophet : he had been saying that a good man giving alms and concealing them is stronger than anything in God's creation, and he went on: “Every good act is charity. Your smiling in your brother's face is charity. An exhortation addressed to your fellow-men to do virtnons deels is equal to almsgiving. Putting a wanderer in the right path is charity; assisting the blind is charity; removing stones and thorns and
* Ibid, Chap. ix. ť Ibid, Chap. ii.