Ramadan 2021: Dubai's Grand Mufti allows use of zakat donation for 100 Million Meals campaign

Project allows people to donate as little as Dh10 to fund 10 meals

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  A worker holds a food pack from Dubai's Beit Al Khair Society, as part of the Ruler of Dubai's 2020 campaign to deliver 10 million meals to low income residents. This year, the campaign will expand to 100 million meals in 20 countries in the region. All photos by Pawan Singh / The National

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  Volunteers distribute food packages in Dubai in May 2020, as the social and economic impact of the pandemic is felt

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  Restaurants across the city joined the campaign to feed workers in the absence of daily Ramadan iftars at mosques and in light of job losses and salary reductions

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  Staff at Al Nadeg restaurant in Deira, Dubai box up fresh and dried food

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  This box contains biryani, laban, fruit, dates and water

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  Staff and workers practise social distancing

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  Staff at Al Nadeg in Deira prepare fresh produce for the campaign

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  Fresh roasted chicken is prepared for the next batch of boxes

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  The 10 million meals project was brought in to replace the free iftars run by mosques across the country, which were halted due to the coronavirus

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  Staff of Al Nadeg restaurant in Deira prepare the food to be delivered

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  1,000 boxes were readied for this particular camp

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  Roast chicken is prepared for delivery

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  Restaurants across the city are volunteering their kitchens and staff as part of the campaign

Zakat money can be used to buy food parcels through the 100 Million Meals campaign, Dubai’s Grand Mufti said on Monday.

Dr Ahmed Al Haddad, Grand Mufti at the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, issued a fatwa that allows people to feed the needy by donating money to the campaign.

The UAE has set out a plan to fund 100 million meals in 20 countries across the region in one of the biggest food drives of its kind.

The campaign is an expansion of 2020’s 10 Million Meals campaign, which helped feed people in the UAE who had lost jobs or suffered salary cuts during the pandemic.

It also helped to feed people who would normally break their fast at iftars that are free of charge at mosques and other public places, which were cancelled last year due to the pandemic.

In a broader regional drive this year, Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan, Angola, Uganda and Egypt are among the countries who will benefit.

A website set up for the campaign allows people to fund 10 meals with as little as Dh10 to Dh500 or more.

Dr Al Haddad said donors and philanthropists from both inside and outside the country could donate zakat money in cash and urged them to support the campaign.

“This initiative helps poor people around the world,” he said.

“We must support this campaign with whatever we can as it will feed hungry and poor people and meet their needs during Ramadan.”

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives will co-ordinate with the Food Banking Regional Network and the UN World Food Programme to reach the people who need food most this Ramadan.

UAE residents with Etisalat and Du numbers can donate through their phone providers.

To donate, send the word “meal” to the following numbers:

1034 for a Dh10 contribution

1035 for a Dh50 contribution

1036 for a Dh100 contribution

1037 for a Dh300 contribution

1038 for a Dh500 contribution

Larger donations can be made to the campaign’s call centre at 800 4999.