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| Source: Adahi website. |
"An e-coupon with the project name and logo along with the price will be printed and an SMS sent to the buyer to confirm the transaction,” the Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group, Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali, explained.
He further stated that the Project is designed to make it easy for pilgrims to perform the ritual by providing animals that meet all shari'ah and health requirements and by ensuring that the environment around the Holy Sites remains clean and protected.
“Since its inception in 1403H (1983), the Project has managed to utilise and distribute more than 17 million livestock amongst the poor in Saudi Arabia and 27 other countries,” he said.
The IDB Group Chairman indicated that the Project’s website www.adahi.org is designed to enable individuals intending to buy sheep for Hady, Odhiya, Sadaqa, Fidya, and Aqeqa to do so with a credit card all year round, from any part in the world. The prices vary by the year. This year (1435, or 2014) a coupon will cost SR490 (US$131 or 98 Euros, according to the current exchange rate).
He also indicated that people can purchase the direct sale coupons from Saudi post offices, branches of Al Rajhi Bank, Al Amoudi foreign exchange bureaus, the Association of Charity Gift for Pilgrims, and the Way for Retail Techniques Company.
Dr Ali stressed that according to Royal Decree 131 of 15/6/1419H (5/10/1998), the sole institution authorised to sell Adahi coupons is confined to the Saudi Arabia Project for the Utilization of Hajj Meat. The IDB Group Chairman also emphasised that all the animals are inspected by veterinary doctors and shari'ah scholars to ensure that the animals meet all shari'ah and health requirements.He further shared that the Project has so far made provisions for 750,000 sheep and 10,000 cows and camels.
The Chairman commended the Project for enabling pilgrims to perform this rite with great ease and thus focus on other Hajj rites. He added that the Project helps to make the meat available to the relevant beneficiaries among the poor in Makkah, after which the surplus is distributed to the poor in 27 other countries.
According to the Adahi website, hady meat from last year's Hajj was sent to various countries in Africa, but also to Bangladesh and Yemen.
*Definitions
- Aqeqa or aqiqah is about a sacrifice made on the occasion of a birth.
- Fidya or fidyah refers to payments made if fasting is not done during Ramadhan.
- Hady or hadi is the sacrifice of a suitable animal in Makkah during the Hajj by pilgrims. It is carried out between 10 and 13 Dhul-Hijjah.
- Odhiya or udhiyah, also called qurbani or korban, is the sacrifice of a suitable animal for Eid Al Adha by people who are not on Hajj. Some scholars say it is obligatory whereas others believe it is part of tradition.
- Sadaqa, or sadaqah, refers to charity.