WE yesterday witnessed the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, and we wish many happy returns to everyone. On this occasion, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the issue of food waste during this blessed month. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.” (Sura Al-Isra, verse 27). On the other hand, there are many aspects where one can spend in ways that are a source of blessed reward from Allah Almighty. However, it seems that the focus is misdirected this month, especially when considering the so-called ‘Mawaed Al-Rahman’, which have recently become more about bringing prestige to the one who donates meals than seeking reward and recompense from Allah. This is especially concerning when we know that, across the Islamic world, half of each meal is wasted every day during Ramadan. In Kuwait, more than four hundred thousand tons of food are thrown away annually. Meanwhile, around 931 million tons of food go to waste every year across the Islamic world.
On the other hand, there are tens of thousands of debtors who, out of urgent necessity, are forced to take loans but suffer greatly to repay their debts. These individuals often find no one to help them. Donate to them instead of spending money on preparing tables to serve meals to the needy - meals that often do not reach those in need. The UAE found a solution to this predicament during the holy month of Ramadan through the generous donation of the Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid to the “100 Million Meals” campaign, which aims to feed the poor and needy in 20 countries. In addition, popular local donation campaigns were launched to help pay off the debts of those in financial distress. Saudi Arabia announced that approximately 700 million Riyals are wasted annually on group Iftar tables. As a result, the government issued a statement proposing that these funds be redirected to help debtors settle their debts and be released from imprisonment penalties resulting from financial cases.
On the other hand, there are tens of thousands of debtors who, out of urgent necessity, are forced to take loans but suffer greatly to repay their debts. These individuals often find no one to help them. Donate to them instead of spending money on preparing tables to serve meals to the needy - meals that often do not reach those in need. The UAE found a solution to this predicament during the holy month of Ramadan through the generous donation of the Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid to the “100 Million Meals” campaign, which aims to feed the poor and needy in 20 countries. In addition, popular local donation campaigns were launched to help pay off the debts of those in financial distress. Saudi Arabia announced that approximately 700 million Riyals are wasted annually on group Iftar tables. As a result, the government issued a statement proposing that these funds be redirected to help debtors settle their debts and be released from imprisonment penalties resulting from financial cases.
In all the Arab Gulf countries, many debtors are unable to repay their debts. Some nations have addressed this issue through a vision based on the principle of “true solidarity.” However, in Kuwait, the crisis continues, and some public institutions and sectors have become mere collectors for creditors. The judiciary and police have turned into debt collection agents. Many debtors, particularly women, have fallen victim to the pressures and temptations of usurers when they were in urgent need of money for important matters like their children’s education or medical treatment. Most women imprisoned for financial cases were exploited by their husbands to sign debt contracts or bounced checks. Unfortunately, many of these women end up being divorced after serving their imprisonment sentences. Wouldn’t it be better to address and resolve their crisis? In most countries around the world, issuing a bank check without sufficient funds is no longer considered a crime. However, in Kuwait, it is still classified as a crime.
Recently, an ‘arrest warrant’ was added for this offense, even though the bankruptcy law had previously abolished this provision. Undoubtedly, this increases the suffering of those in need who are unable to repay their loans. On the other hand, many zakat payers want to ensure that their zakat reaches the right destination and is given to those truly deserving. But does this happen? Zakat houses, charitable societies, and committees often do not pay enough attention to the debtors inside Kuwait. Instead, they tend to prioritize the needy abroad, and direct donations to them. Much of the funds raised by charitable societies are spent on advertising, propaganda, and the travel costs of employees working in these organizations. This is not permissible because charitable funds should not be wasted in the wrong areas, especially when there are local needy individuals who are suffering. It is well known that zakat funds are allocated for different categories, including debtors, blood money, and the poor.
Zakat should not increase the suffering of the needy. I have said this repeatedly: The lender who offers a loan to those unable to repay the loan deserves to bear the loss. This is a legal principle, as the lender must ensure that the debtor can repay before offering the loan. In this regard, I would like to repeat what I wrote on April 19, 2023. It is a quotation from the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): “Be merciful to those on earth, so that God in the heavens will have mercy upon you.” Mercy means lifting the burden from the shoulders of debtors. There is no doubt that the debtors, along with their families, will pray to God to grant long and healthy lives to those who show such great concern, and help them rid themselves of these heavy burdens. So, at the beginning of this blessed month, the budget that is typically wasted on preparing and serving food tables should be allocated for a better and more effective purpose, which is paying off the debts of those who cannot afford it, so they can be freed from jail and can reunite with their families during Ramadan. Is it logical for all Arab countries to spend more than 5.5 billion US dollars during the 30 days of Ramadan, while the percentage of the poor in these countries has reached 52 percent? Isn’t it evident that the warning mentioned in the verse, which cautions Muslims against being “wasteful” while seeking God’s reward, particularly when they direct their donations to the wrong cause, applies to us?
Recently, an ‘arrest warrant’ was added for this offense, even though the bankruptcy law had previously abolished this provision. Undoubtedly, this increases the suffering of those in need who are unable to repay their loans. On the other hand, many zakat payers want to ensure that their zakat reaches the right destination and is given to those truly deserving. But does this happen? Zakat houses, charitable societies, and committees often do not pay enough attention to the debtors inside Kuwait. Instead, they tend to prioritize the needy abroad, and direct donations to them. Much of the funds raised by charitable societies are spent on advertising, propaganda, and the travel costs of employees working in these organizations. This is not permissible because charitable funds should not be wasted in the wrong areas, especially when there are local needy individuals who are suffering. It is well known that zakat funds are allocated for different categories, including debtors, blood money, and the poor.
Zakat should not increase the suffering of the needy. I have said this repeatedly: The lender who offers a loan to those unable to repay the loan deserves to bear the loss. This is a legal principle, as the lender must ensure that the debtor can repay before offering the loan. In this regard, I would like to repeat what I wrote on April 19, 2023. It is a quotation from the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): “Be merciful to those on earth, so that God in the heavens will have mercy upon you.” Mercy means lifting the burden from the shoulders of debtors. There is no doubt that the debtors, along with their families, will pray to God to grant long and healthy lives to those who show such great concern, and help them rid themselves of these heavy burdens. So, at the beginning of this blessed month, the budget that is typically wasted on preparing and serving food tables should be allocated for a better and more effective purpose, which is paying off the debts of those who cannot afford it, so they can be freed from jail and can reunite with their families during Ramadan. Is it logical for all Arab countries to spend more than 5.5 billion US dollars during the 30 days of Ramadan, while the percentage of the poor in these countries has reached 52 percent? Isn’t it evident that the warning mentioned in the verse, which cautions Muslims against being “wasteful” while seeking God’s reward, particularly when they direct their donations to the wrong cause, applies to us?
Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
