Doctors can pay their Zakat by performing free surgery or clinical examinations for needy patients, according to Sheikh Abdullah Al-Mutlaq, a member of the Board of Senior Ulema. Al-Watan Arabic daily reported on Sunday that he announced the fatwa during a symposium on Saturday in Riyadh, which was held to discuss the role of civil society in healthcare services. “For example, if a doctor has to pay SR500,000 in Zakat, he can perform surgical operations and consider them part of his Zakat. Some excellent doctors go to Africa to conduct free surgery and work as volunteer doctors.” Sheikh Al-Mutlaq called on the Ministry of Health to cooperate with foundations and allow doctors to travel abroad to conduct surgeries. Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah, Minister of Health, promised to help doctors who want to volunteer their services to the needy. The ministry has a program called the “Visiting Doctor” for this purpose, he pointed out.