In Ramadan beggars across the Kingdom become more active as the holy month offers a perfect opportunity for them to approach people with their sad stories often accompanied by tears. Muslims are encouraged to be more charitable during Ramadan, a practice that brings a large number of beggars to the Kingdom and other Gulf countries at this time of the year. During the past week, an anti-beggary team in Taif arrested more than 20 beggars staying in several houses in the governorate. According to the team, these people were waiting for the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan to start begging at shopping centers, markets and mosques. According to reports, 28,710 beggars of both genders have been arrested in crackdowns across the Kingdom during the last couple six months. Of these, 3,760 were Saudis representing 13 percent of the total number of beggars. The total also included 1,649 children who are under 15 years of age constituting 43 percent of the total number of Saudi beggars who were caught in the raid. The number of beggars of other nationalities totaled 24,950 representing 87 percent. Most beggars congregate outside mosques, shopping centers, fish and vegetable markets, hotels and restaurants, petrol pumps and other public places. They usually are equipped with hospital papers or electricity bills or are carrying infants, which are the tricks used to generate pity. “We always see beggars on the streets and especially at traffic lights. But Ramadan sees a sharp increase in the number of beggars and their activities. Of course, these people would like to exploit the holy month as much as possible and play on the high level of people's religious emotions during this special time,” said Nader, a Pakistani national who has been here for over 15 years. Syed Ataullah, who runs a stationary shop in Al-Khobar and has lived in the Kingdom for more than 25 years, said, “Not all beggars are bad. On the contrary, there are a lot of unfortunate people out there who need all the support and help they can get. It's so difficult to distinguish between the deserving and bogus beggars. I feel so guilty for not helping an old lady in the street, but at the same time it's not my responsibility to save every single beggar.” Sometimes he does not mind giving a large sum of money to these beggars especially during Ramadan. “There are women who come to my house during Ramadan and ask for money. They are all healthy enough to do some work, I wonder why they would rather beg,” Maha, a Saudi working woman, told Saudi Gazette. Mohmmed Hussain, a Sudanee national who works in the Islamic Cultral Center, said that there are government-approved charity organizations in the Kingdom which collect Zakat and sadaqa (charity donations that are enjoined upon Muslims) from people in order to help the poor and the needy. Jameela Nasser, an Indian housewife, said that there are many needy people who should be taken care of. “As Ramadan is the month of mercy and charity, obviously the needy people may expect to get something during this month. Yes, some people do exploit the month. But my policy is if somebody asks for money, I usually give whether they are exploiting or not. I do not care.” __
