How the Elderly and Sick Spend Eid

By Afnan Hayah, Arab News  

October 3, 2008

Saudi Arabia

Eid Al-Fitr is a time for enjoyment and celebration for children as well as for adults and the elderly. But for many unlucky people, especially the poor and needy, the occasion is a time for sorrow, despite the presence of many philanthropists who provide them with food and housing.

Arab News visited the Charitable Housing Compound in Makkah and met its residents to know how they celebrated the Eid. 

A retired employee, Abu Muhammad, 50, has five children. He has been doing some secretarial work near a government office to get some extra money, as his pension is not enough to meet the growing expenses of his family.

“Eid days are the most difficult and sorrowful days for me because I do not have money to purchase new clothes for my kids and take them to recreational centers,” Abu Muhammad said. “I feel pain thinking that I cannot meet the requirements of my family. I don’t open my house to anybody fearing they would see the poor condition in our dilapidated house.”

Aysha Saad is a 64-year-old woman who came to the neighborhood about 15 years ago. She does not have any money to meet her expenses and depends solely on the monthly assistance from the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI). 

“I cannot afford a good dress for Eid. I just bought one for SR5,” she said. 
She used to receive SR200 as Eid gift from philanthropists.

GOSI does not meet all of Aysha’s requirements. She collects whatever money she receives from philanthropists for her Eid expenses. She sets aside some money to purchase medicines that are not available at government hospitals. “I am happy with my situation. I know there are people whose conditions are much worse,” she said.

Seventy-year-old Fatima came to the compound about 13 years ago. When we met at her house she was preparing to visit her aunt Mubeena wearing her new abaya (a black gown), to spend Eid with her. As a divorced woman, Fatima does not have money to meet her expenses. The abaya was a gift from her aunt.

“The abaya helps me to cover my old and worn-out clothes I wear inside,” Fatima said. “I wear this abaya even inside the home of my aunt so that nobody will see what I have put on underneath. I refuse to go out with my aunt for recreation during Eid, because I don’t want to cause a burden for her.” 

Thirty-seven-year-old Sameera has another sad story to tell. She was among the first women to occupy a home in the charitable compound after it was built 16 years ago. “My only income is the monthly assistance of GOSI. There were days in which I didn’t eat. I spend half of the money I receive from GOSI to pay debts that have reached SR6,000.” 

Due to shortage of money she cannot buy many essential things required for her house.

“I did not go to the Grand Mosque for prayer because I don’t have a good dress to wear and can’t meet transport expenses. May Allah change my situation so that I can join prayer at the Haram Mosque,” she said as tears flowed from her eyes.

Zahour, 45, has been living in the neighborhood for the last six years after she was divorced. 

“I have not purchased any Eid clothing for the last four years, because I did not have enough money for that,” she said. She is suffering from kidney failure and high cholesterol and spends a lot of money on medicine every month. “We the women living in this compound assemble in one of the houses to spend our Eid and vent our woes and problems,” she said.

Bakheet, 55, resides in the compound with his eight children and they live on his pension. 

“I feel extremely pained during Eid because I cannot afford to pay for new clothing for my children and I can’t take them to recreation centers,” he said.
Bakheet said his children are satisfied with whatever they have and they don’t demand the impossible. “I have not bought any new clothing in more than six years,” he added.

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