AUTHOR: ‘Abdullaah bin Saalih Al-Fawzaan
SOURCE: Ahaadeeth As-Siyaam: Ahkaam wa Adaab (pg.63-65)
PRODUCED BY: www.Al-Ibaanah.com

Abu Umaamah (radhiyallaahu `anhu) reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said: “Recite the Qur’aan for indeed it will come on the Day of Judgement as an intercessor for its Ashaab (those who read, memorize and implement it).” [1]

Shaykh ‘Abdullaah bin Saalih Al-Fawzaan

Footnotes:
[1] Saheeh Muslim
[2] Reported by Muslim (804)

[3] Saheeh Muslim (804)
[4] Al-Bukhaaree (1/30) and Muslim (2308)
[5] Lataa’if-ul-Ma’aarif: pg. 102-103

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MAKKAH, 28 September 2007 — There are reasons to suspect that every foreigner coming to Makkah in ihram is not a pilgrim. Several poor foreigners are lured by the prospects of the profitable trade of begging in the holy city, particularly in the month of Ramadan.

In most cases, these beggars are not ready to leave the Kingdom after the expiry of their visas and eventually end up in the detention centers run by the Anti-Beggary Department. Authorities have occasionally found entire families, including small children, earning a lot of money through this loathsome trade.

The matter becomes horrifying when some gangs resort to the mutilation of healthy children in order to make them effective beggars. It is suspected that there are criminal gangs who buy or hire children from poor countries to force them to beg in the holy cities.

In a visit to the Misfala district in Makkah, Arab News found a 60-year-old Arab man in a small park not far from the Anti-Beggary Department office. His artificial leg had been removed so that passersby could see clearly the crude stump of his bare amputated leg.

“I am hungry. I came here with my daughter from a neighboring country on the first day of Ramadan. A few days after our arrival I lost my way. I don’t know where my daughter is. I don’t know what to do without her. Can you help this poor old man,” he replied stretching his hand apparently for some money.

I assured him that I could help him find the missing daughter by taking him to the nearest police station. On hearing the word “police” the man shrunk back saying it was no use and he could manage without the police. “I am very tired and cannot move an inch,” he said.

When I asked him why he was sitting in the hot sun, he said he would move to the shade when the heat was too much. Then I left him and watched him from a distance. I found him drawing the attention of passersby and receiving money from them.

A detained beggar at the Makkah Anti-Beggary Department jail, Ibrahim Qaid of Yemeni nationality, said he and several others crossed the mountainous Saudi-Yemen border with the help of a smuggler. The smuggler took them to Makkah for a huge fee. “Unfortunately, two days after our arrival in Makkah I was arrested while begging,” he said. He is now awaiting deportation.

Mansour Al-Hazmi, director of the Anti-Beggary Department in Makkah, said that about 98 percent of beggars were foreigners of various nationalities. Some of them are legal residents while others are overstayers.

“There are several families who send their children for begging. There are also organized groups who bring in children from poor countries and disfigure them for begging,” Al-Hazmi said, adding that begging usually peaks in Ramadan — a time when people are usually more charitable.

Muhammad Shafi, chairman of the Joint Committee to Combat Begging, said: “The begging gangs are very active in the holy month because it is a time when they are able to earn huge sums. There are organized networks of gangs that arrange for beggars to enter the Kingdom. They also plan their activities, including mutilating them in order to evoke the pity of onlookers.”

The streets of the holy city during Ramadan are filled with vendors one wouldn’t normally see other times. The elderly can be seen hawking home-cooked food, clothes, toys or assorted gifts to supplement their pensions during a potential seasonal windfall in extra funds.

“Zamzam for sale!” shouted out Fahd Abdullah, a 27-year-old unemployed Saudi university graduate amid bottles filled with water from the sacred well.

“I spend six hours a day selling Zamzam water,” said Abdullah, who also offers to deliver water to the homes or temporary lodging of pilgrims and locals. “I start after Asr prayer and carry on until isha.”

Employed people looking to make extra cash are also often attracted to hawking during Ramadan. Teachers, bank employees and others are often found either selling products or working as taxi drivers.

Turki Al-Ahmary, 22, was standing on a street corner close to the Grand Mosque with a large container of hot water, milk and teabags.

“I’m bored sitting at home without work, so I decided to do something useful this season,” said Al-Ahmary, a Saudi, who said he earns up to SR350 a day during Ramadan as a tea vendor. “I liked the idea of selling tea. There is no shame in this job because it generates good profit and I can support myself financially.”

Ahmad Al-Harbi sits beside Al-Ahmary selling homemade food and appetizers. “I earn good money to help me increase my family income,” he said. “By the end of the holy month I will have earned around SR7,000. I begin work after Isha prayer and carry on until about 3 a.m.,” he said. “My mother played a huge role in encouraging me; she makes food for me and is the one who prepares vegetables and packs them in jars.”

During iftar (the breaking of the fast), people in Hijaz love drinking subia (a malt beverage made from raisins or bread) and sherbet.

Abu Saleh, 45, is retired and is considered an expert in preparing subia. He learned how to make the drink from his father 10 years ago.

“Sitting at home retired makes me ill,” he said. “Once you’re used to work you can’t stop working. The worst enemy for retired people is free time. The holy month is the best time to sell subia. It’s a popular drink.”

Saleh said that he works from Asr prayer until Iftar and earns around SR300 a day.

Abu Jihad, an elderly Saudi man, sells dates in front of the Grand Mosque, where demand is high — dates are considered a traditional breakfasting food. “It requires experience to differentiate between various types of dates,” he said.

MAKKAH, 28 September 2007 — There are reasons to suspect that every foreigner coming to Makkah in ihram is not a pilgrim. Several poor foreigners are lured by the prospects of the profitable trade of begging in the holy city, particularly in the month of Ramadan.

In most cases, these beggars are not ready to leave the Kingdom after the expiry of their visas and eventually end up in the detention centers run by the Anti-Beggary Department. Authorities have occasionally found entire families, including small children, earning a lot of money through this loathsome trade.

The matter becomes horrifying when some gangs resort to the mutilation of healthy children in order to make them effective beggars. It is suspected that there are criminal gangs who buy or hire children from poor countries to force them to beg in the holy cities.

In a visit to the Misfala district in Makkah, Arab News found a 60-year-old Arab man in a small park not far from the Anti-Beggary Department office. His artificial leg had been removed so that passersby could see clearly the crude stump of his bare amputated leg.

“I am hungry. I came here with my daughter from a neighboring country on the first day of Ramadan. A few days after our arrival I lost my way. I don’t know where my daughter is. I don’t know what to do without her. Can you help this poor old man,” he replied stretching his hand apparently for some money.

I assured him that I could help him find the missing daughter by taking him to the nearest police station. On hearing the word “police” the man shrunk back saying it was no use and he could manage without the police. “I am very tired and cannot move an inch,” he said.

When I asked him why he was sitting in the hot sun, he said he would move to the shade when the heat was too much. Then I left him and watched him from a distance. I found him drawing the attention of passersby and receiving money from them.

A detained beggar at the Makkah Anti-Beggary Department jail, Ibrahim Qaid of Yemeni nationality, said he and several others crossed the mountainous Saudi-Yemen border with the help of a smuggler. The smuggler took them to Makkah for a huge fee. “Unfortunately, two days after our arrival in Makkah I was arrested while begging,” he said. He is now awaiting deportation.

Mansour Al-Hazmi, director of the Anti-Beggary Department in Makkah, said that about 98 percent of beggars were foreigners of various nationalities. Some of them are legal residents while others are overstayers.

“There are several families who send their children for begging. There are also organized groups who bring in children from poor countries and disfigure them for begging,” Al-Hazmi said, adding that begging usually peaks in Ramadan — a time when people are usually more charitable.

Muhammad Shafi, chairman of the Joint Committee to Combat Begging, said: “The begging gangs are very active in the holy month because it is a time when they are able to earn huge sums. There are organized networks of gangs that arrange for beggars to enter the Kingdom. They also plan their activities, including mutilating them in order to evoke the pity of onlookers.”