RIYADH: As the holy month of Ramadan winds down, the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) has come out with a Fitra package for SR15 for an individual. Besides this offer, pavement stalls have sprung up all over the city for the sale of Fitra rice.
Fitra is a religious tax (Zakat) paid on the day when Muslims break the fasting period at the end of Ramadan. This alms is known as Zakat Al-Fitr.
Giving Fitra becomes obligatory after sunset on the eve of Eid Al-Fitr. It should be paid before Eid prayers. It is essential to have the intention of giving the obligatory Fitra seeking only God’s pleasure.
Zakat Al-Fitr is obligatory on every Muslim who is mature, sane, financially able, and conscious on the eve of Eid Al-Fitr. It should also be given on behalf of all dependents, such as parents, wife, children and servants whom one supports financially.
The amount of Fitra is about 2.2 kg of rice or any other staple food for each individual.
“We will distribute rice collected in Zakat among the poor,” Ahmed Sarhan, manager at the WAMY office in Sitteen Street in the capital, told Arab News.
Sarhan explained that there are 10 WAMY offices in Riyadh that will be opened for this purpose from 10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. to enable people to make their Fitra contributions.
He added that these offices would issue SR15 coupon for each donation.
“In previous years, the cost of the coupon was SR10. This year we have made it SR15 considering the increase in rice price. During the last two days we have sold more than 30,000 coupons,” he said.
The Fitra rice sold on the pavements is in convenient bags to enable customers to give them directly to the needy people. A big sack of rice containing 30 kg costs SR200, which can be given on behalf of 10 people.
“We do not make big profits since people buy these rice bags for a worthy cause,” Abdullah, a Saudi vendor at a pavement stall, told Arab News.
He added that he has been doing this business during the latter half of the holy month for the past six years.
“I am happy that I am able to serve Muslims in my own way during the holy month,” he said.
“There are people who want to give the best variety of rice to the poor at a costlier price,” he said. “We have made special packets of rice for such customers.”
Supermarkets have also stacked up packets of Fitra rice for the convenience of its customers. “We expect a brisk sale during the days before the Eid,” a salesman at a supermarket said.
Banks closed
On account of the forthcoming Eid festival, banks closed their business for a week yesterday but they have prepared their ATMs for customers during the weeklong Eid holiday. However, a few remittance centers in downtown Riyadh will be open during the holidays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
