RIYADH — Saudis and expatriates purchased rice worth SR200 million over the past three days to give to the poor as Zakat Al-Fitr, the obligatory alms to be distributed in time for Eid. Rice is the most preferred food item for this particular Zakat, according to Saudi scholars, most of whom follow the Hanbali school of jurisprudence. According to Islamic law, every Muslim who can pay his family's expenses on Eid day should distribute about three kilograms of grain on behalf of everyone in his care. While most people insist on giving Zakat Al-Fitr in kind, some scholars say it can be paid in cash if it is to the advantage of the beneficiaries. Given that almost 75 percent families in the Kingdom employ domestic servants, rice worth at least SR30 million would have been distributed on behalf of some 3 million foreign housemaids living in the country. The head of the family is responsible for paying Zakat Al-Fitr for himself and anyone in his care, including servants, regardless of age and sex. While many Saudis send their Zakat to charity organizations that distribute it among the needy people, there are others who prefer to pay in person to poor people that they know or casually meet. For more than three days until Thursday morning, three-kilogram rice bags were piled in special section of major malls, in front of grocery stores and even on the pavement to help people distribute Zakat before the Eid Al-Fitr prayers. Many poor people were seen waiting outside malls and sidewalks to receive the Zakat. While some recipients of the Zakat store the rice at home for use in the days to come, others sell whatever they feel is excess for cash to spend on other Eid purchases.
