As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, Muslims prepare to observe the fast, a fundamental pillar of Islam. However, some may face health conditions that prevent them from fasting, such as the elderly or those with chronic, incurable illnesses. For these individuals, Islam provides a dispensation known as "fidyah" or "kaffarah," which involves feeding a poor person for each day missed. To facilitate this process for those wishing to pay, the national charitable platform "Ihsan" has launched an online service for paying these expiations, ensuring they reach their intended recipients easily and reliably.
The legal context and digital transformation of charitable work
Expiation is a religious duty aimed at achieving social solidarity and meeting the needs of the poor and needy. It is an integral part of the objectives of Islamic law in preserving life and caring for the vulnerable. Historically, expiation was paid directly from individuals to those in need within their communities. However, with the development and increasing complexity of societies, the need arose for organized institutional channels to ensure that aid reaches the most vulnerable groups in various regions.
As part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims for digital transformation across all sectors, the "Ihsan" platform was launched as a trusted national platform overseen by the Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and several other official entities. The platform aims to enhance transparency and reliability in charitable work, facilitate donations for individuals and companies, and ensure that donations reach those in need in the fastest and most efficient way.
The importance of paying expiation through the Ihsan platform
Using the Ihsan platform contributes to achieving several strategic and societal goals. Locally, the platform provides citizens and residents with a safe and convenient channel to fulfill their religious obligations, thereby strengthening trust in the non-profit sector. It also ensures that support reaches beneficiaries registered with official authorities, resulting in a sustainable social impact. Regionally and internationally, these initiatives highlight the pioneering role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in harnessing technology to serve humanitarian and charitable work, and provide a model to be emulated in the governance and increased effectiveness of donations.
Types of expiations available through the Ihsan platform
The Ihsan platform provides a service for distributing various types of expiations to meet the different legal needs of donors, mainly including:
- Expiation for those unable to fast: This is for those who cannot fast permanently due to old age or chronic illness.
- Expiation for breaking an oath: For one who breaks his oath, the expiation is to feed ten poor people.
- Expiation for the prohibitions of Ihram: For those who commit one of the prohibitions of Ihram while performing the rituals of Hajj or Umrah.
Steps to pay the expiation for someone unable to fast through Ihsan
To easily pay the expiation, the following steps can be followed:
- Accessing the official website of the national platform for charitable work, “Ihsan”.
- From the homepage, select “Donation Opportunities” and then go to the “Expiations” section.
- Specify the type of expiation to be paid, in this case “expiation for someone unable to fast”.
- Enter the amount you wish to donate. The platform usually calculates the value of food per day (e.g., 10 riyals), and you can multiply this amount by the number of days you have broken your fast.
- Add the donation to the cart and complete the payment process via one of the available and secure electronic payment methods.
- After the process is completed, you will receive a confirmation message, and the platform will deliver your expiation in the form of meals or food items to the eligible people registered with it.
This service is part of an integrated system of initiatives supervised by official bodies, such as the “Iftar for the Fasting” program organized by the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in cooperation with the Ihsan platform, with the aim of organizing Iftar operations in the Two Holy Mosques and ensuring that they are provided with the highest standards of quality and efficiency.
