Endowments in Makkah ‘vital for development’

Endowments in Makkah should be protected because they aid in raising living standards, development of the city and improving services for pilgrims.

This is according to Maher bin Saleh Jamal, chairman of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), who was speaking at a symposium here entitled “Awqaf and its mission in the service of pilgrims.”

He said there are 140,000 awqaf or endowment properties that have been donated for community use across the Kingdom, which places an obligation on everyone to ensure they are looked after properly. Endowments are a great act of worship, he said.

Muslims have been making endowments in Makkah over the past 14 centuries, which has helped to fund religious activities and boost national development, he said at the symposium on Wednesday.

Those in attendance included the sons of Abdul Aziz Al-Rajhi, Abdullah bin Shakir El-Sharif Ghalib, secretary general of the MCCI, Aladdin Al-Ghalib, chairman of the endowment committee, and researchers.

Bandar Al-Rajhi, general supervisor of the Al-Rajhi Haj campaign, said 17,000 people were helped to perform the pilgrimage last year. The campaign’s projects include scholarships, assisting orphans, and helping couples who are newly married.

The Haj campaign had initially started as a project run by the Al-Rajhi family and employees but now included several citizens and residents as volunteers, he said.

Related articles across the web

• Security priority for traders
• Another woman scoops male-dominated ZACCI award
• Sierra Leone produces investors' guide
• FTAPCCI, Symbiosis sign MoU for last-mile reach
• Cross – community internships programme launched
• Equifax : Workforce Solutions Honored with Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fast Track Award
• Port Manatee Advances Honduras Trade Initiative
• DCCI urges businesses look overseas to drive growth
• Plankton Farms harvests test algae crop for health supplement
• College Endowments and Donations on the Taxing Block?