JEDDAH, 6 February — Speakers at a seminar here have said that the charity work in the Kingdom did not suffer any setback due to lack of interest on the part of individuals. They expressed their appreciation to the contribution of women in all areas of humanitarian work.
The seminar was organized by the National Home Care Organization at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry auditorium on Monday.
The organization honored prominent philanthropist and columnist Aljoharah Al-Anqari in recognition of her contribution to humanitarian activities during a career spanning 24 years by inducting her as an honorary member of the society.
Aljoharah is known for her charity work through Al-Faisaliah Charity Society and other agencies.
Discussing the importance of charity work from a religious perspective, Dr. Fatima Naseef, a leading Saudi scholar, said in Islam charity work is not a voluntary activity but is one of the basic tenets of the religion. Islam makes obligatory upon every Muslim to work for the welfare of fellow Muslims.
Dr. Fatena Shaker, former head of the Sociology Department at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, stressed the importance of charity work in the Muslim society and explained how it contributes to the integrity and unity of the Ummah.
Dr. Mona Al-Sawaf, a psychology consultant, talked about how involvement in charity activities help an individual to refine his behavior and elevate his standing in the society.
