a general term for what is given out of charity to the poor. In the early ages of Christianity, the alms of the charitable were divided into four parts; one of which was allotted to the bishop, another to the priests, and a third to the deacons and subdeacons, which formed their whole means of subsistence; the fourth part was employed in relieving the poor, and in repairing the churches. No religious system is more frequent or warm in its exhortations to almsgiving than the Mahometan. The Koran represents alms as a necessary means to make prayer be heard. Hence that saying of one of their caliphs: "Prayer carries us halfway to God, fasting brings us to the door of his palace, and alms introduce us into the presence-chamber." Hence many illustrious examples of this virtue among the Mahometans.