RIYADH, 19 October 2006 — As the holy month of Ramadan enters its final days, pavement stalls have sprung up all over Saudi cities selling rice to be distributed as Zakah Al-Fitr.
The Zakah Al-Fitr is a type of religious alms that Muslims give to the poor on the day of Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of fasting in Ramadan. This alms, which is obligatory, is known as Zakah Al-Fitr.
Giving the zakah becomes due after sunset on the eve of Eid Al-Fitr. It should be paid before Eid prayers. But it can be paid in days preceding the Eid.
Zakah Al-Fitr is obligatory on every adult Muslim who is sane, and financially able to pay it after meeting his family’s needs for the Eid day. It should also be given on behalf of all dependents such as wife, children and servants whom one supports.
About 2.5 kilos of rice or other staple food (or its equivalent in cash) must be given to the poor on behalf of each individual, including the newborn.
The rice is sold in convenient bags to enable customers to give them directly to the needy people. Each bag contains 2.5 kilograms of rice and is sold at a modest price of SR7. A big sack of rice containing 30 kilos costs only SR100, which can be given on behalf of 10 people.
“We do not make a huge profit margin since the people buy these rice for a worthy cause,” said Saad Abdullah Al-Sahl, a vendor at a pavement stall. He added that he has been doing this business during the latter part of the holy month for the past five years.
“I am happy that I am able to serve the Muslims in my own way during the holy month,” he said, adding that people enjoyed giving lavishly in charity during Ramadan. “There are philanthropists who want to give the best variety of rice, even though costly, to the poor. ... We have made special packets of rice for such customers.”
Supermarkets have also stacked up packets of rice for Zakah Al-Fitr. “We expect a brisk sale during the days before the Eid,” a salesman at a supermarket told Arab News.
It is estimated that an average Saudi family spends SR4,000 to SR5,000 at this time of year.
On account of the forthcoming Eid festival, banks closed yesterday for a week. But they have prepared their ATMs for customers during the weeklong Eid holiday. However, a few cash remittance centers in downtown Batha in Riaydh will be open during the holidays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. to enable customers to send money to their families for the festival.
