RIYADH: Meat from animals sacrificed during the Eid Al-Adha by the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) and other charities goes a long way to help the poor and needy across the world.

Although it is a Sunnah (an action of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) for a Muslim to slaughter an animal himself, many people rely on charities to complete the task on their behalf.

During last year’s Eid Al-Adha, more than SR7 million worth of sheep were sacrificed by WAMY, said Hamad Al-Asim, director of social affairs at WAMY. “This year, till date, SR6 million worth of sheep have been bought at SR370 per head,” he said.

“More than 42 countries, mostly in Africa, benefit from these sacrificed sheep,” said Al-Asim, adding that some Asian countries also benefit from the program. “We rely on charitable societies in the targeted countries which provide us with the required number of sacrificial sheep and details of the families they are sponsoring, and then we send money to our offices which take on the task of slaughtering animals and distributing the meat to the poor,” Al-Asim said.

Around 60 percent of the sacrificial meat are sent abroad while 40 percent is given to the needy inside the Kingdom. This ratio, according to Al-Asim, is due to the fact that there are many charitable societies in the Kingdom that can provide for the needy while in other countries there are people “who do not get to eat meat except during this season.”

Al-Birr Charitable Society’s Mohammad Al-Mutairi said the society sold over 100 coupons for sheep sacrifices, a number that is expected to rise in the coming few days before Eid when the meat is distributed.

The society sponsors more than 1,400 needy families in Riyadh and slaughtered sheep are distributed among them on the night of Eid. “Although the prices of sheep vary from SR1,150 to SR700, many rush to buy them as it is an important religious ritual and people tend to abide by it regardless of their economic situation,” said Al-Mutairi.

Meanwhile, many citizens are wary of buying goats this year because of what they described as an unbelievable rise in prices. Some of those who went to purchase goats said prices have increased by 50 percent compared to last year.

A survey of the animal market in Riyadh confirmed this. The price of Al-Najdi goat has increased from SR1,300 to SR1,800 while the price for Al-Naimi goats has increased from SR1,200 to SR1,600.

Ibrahim Al-Zahrani, an employee in a private hotel in Riyadh, said the prices would not encourage middle-income people to sacrifice goats this year. “Last year, I bought a goat for SR950. This year it has increased to SR1,500.”

Saeed Al-Sharani, a government employee who was making the rounds of the animal market, said he wouldn’t buy any goats this year. “Why should I buy a goat here when for the same price I can buy five goats abroad.”

— With input from Ali Al-Zahrani