A Hand for the Poor

     
Yomna Kamel Middle East Times staff


In Ramadan, and especially the Eid, Muslims the world over are encouraged to give money to the poor – making this time of year an especially busy one for shahateen (beggars). This year, however, something has changed on the streets of Cairo and suddenly the usual holiday crowds of beggars have vanished from the streets.

"I met very few beggars on streets. People in areas like Mohandiseen and Dokki used to be followed by beggars nagging to give them money. Sometimes, they knocked on doors asking for money which was not very safe," says Kamilia Ahmed a resident of the upper class suburb of Mohandiseen.

"This Eid, no beggars knocked at my door and very few stopped me on streets asking for money," she adds.

In fact, there is a reason for this shift. According to a source at Cairo's main police station, police launched two campaigns against beggars this Ramadan. The first campaign was a few days before the new millennium's celebrations and it was aimed all sorts of illegal activities in the city, including beggars and vendors. It was a security procedure in preparation for the celebrations, the source explains.

The second campaign was carried out in the Waqfa, the last day of Ramadan. The source explained that the campaign was specifically aimed at the army of beggars that swarms the streets during Eid taking advantage of people's generosity.

Although police say it was a general campaign covering Cairo and Giza, it was noticed that the major areas where upper classes live were the focus of the campaign while lower-income neighborhoods were ignored.

"I did not see many of them in Cairo's major streets, but there were still many, as every year, in Cairo's poor neighborhoods. If you go to Imbaba, Boulaq, or Shobra, you find lots of them," said Islam Mahran, a taxi driver.

There were very few beggars, for example, in Zamalek, a Cairo neighborhood composed of upper-class Egyptians and expatriates. On 26th of July Street, the major street, only one beggar could be found during the Eid – an old man.

"I have been in this area for five years. I was neither arrested by police nor annoyed by anyone else since I am just sitting here and some people give me money. Some shopkeepers even make me coffee with milk everyday," he said.

On the other hand, the usual crowds of begging children and adults in the area couldn't be found.

Beggars' numbers might have not exceed one or two in areas like Zamalek, but they were definitely more in Cairo's lower income areas.

"There were a lot of beggars here in Shoubra during the Eid, especially on the first day. It was just like every year, nothing has changed. There are lots of poor people who are in need for help in our neighborhood," says Thouraya Sayed, who has been living in Shoubra for more than 20 years.

Muslims have to give money to the poor, especially during Ramadan and the Eid. According to Al Azhar, every adult Muslim has to give ++zakat Al Fitr, which is a minimum of E£5 to the poor during Ramadan. During the days of the Eid, Muslims are encouraged to give the ++sadaqa (donation), which can be any amount of money.

"Giving sadaqa is a good thing that Muslims are encouraged to do not only in Ramadan or the Eid, but throughout the year. We prefer to give it during Ramadan because it is a special religious occasion for us," Muhammad Sahloul, a professor of Islamic Studies at Al Azhar University told

Al Wafd newspaper.

"There is nothing wrong with asking others for help if they are really in need, but taking begging as a profession is not religiously acceptable," Sahloul said.

Now, however, if Cairenes want to give during the Eid, they have to travel to Shoubra and other lower-income neighborhoods.