"Zakat El Gharemin” The Debtors campaign to release 2,000 imprisoned women

10/03/2021

On the Mother's Day occasion and for the 12th year consecutively
The United Bank, Misr El Kheir Foundation, and The Ministry of Interior
launch the "Zakat El Gharemin” The Debtors campaign to release 2,000 imprisoned women for small amounts of money


Cairo: March 10th, 2021
 
The United Bank participates in the "Zakat El Gharemin” the debtors campaign at the initiative of the Misr El Kheir Foundation headed by Dr. Ali Gomaa - the former Grand Mufti of Egypt and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and The United Bank in cooperation with The Egyptian Ministry of Interior to release 2000 imprisoned women for small amounts of money that do not exceed fifteen thousand Egyptian pounds before Mother's Day.

Dr. Ali Gomaa, the Ex Grand Mufti of Egypt and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Misr El Kheir Foundation, defined the word "The Debtors", based on Imam El Qortoby in his interpretation (8/184) that they are the ones tied by the debts and cannot pay or negotiate them. If they do not have money and owe a debt, then they are poor and debited.

Regarding the issue of disbursing “Zakat El Gharemin” the debtors who are imprisoned due to their inability to pay their debts or the fines legally prescribed to them - Dr. Ali Gomaa indicates in an official fatwa No. (1628) that the share of the debtors is one of the Zakat stipulated in Surat El Tawbah verse 60 , which says:
"Zakat expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed for it and for bringing hearts together and for freeing captives and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the traveler - an obligation by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise."    Allah Almighty is Truthful

And the Imam Abou Hanifa defined, "The Debtor" as the one who owes a debt is imprisoned for it.

Commenting on the "Zakat El Gharemin" campaign, which has a social, economic and humanitarian dimension - Ashraf El Kady - Chairman of The United Bank - says that The United Bank’s policy was based on deepening community participation and adopting a number of vital issues with a social, economic and human dimension affecting the society as a whole.

And that is through the continuous diligence in offering a set of banking and therapeutic solutions that are compatible with the provisions of Sharia, with innovative banking methods that keep pace with contemporary developments, in partnership with serious civil society institutions that are working at the national level.

Therefore, the initiative was initiated by the Misr El-Kheir Foundation in 2009 and The United Bank, in cooperation with The Egyptian Ministry of Interior, to launch a campaign of "Zakat El Gharemin", which is considered one of the legitimate Zakat ways as mentioned in the Book of God, by opening a pooled account to receive donations and material support to release crowds of debtors. Until last January 2021, 80,009 credit cards were released
 
He added that the Debtor campaign aims to release 2000 imprisoned women before Mother's Day, whose debts will be fully paid and all procedures for their release will be completed to return them to their families as soon as God willing.

Criteria for selecting the debtors:
Misr El-Kheir Foundation has defined 8 criteria for selecting the debtors, they are:
•    The poor debtor, who was imprisoned by debt in permissible matters, is more preliminary to repayment because he has combined the two issues of poverty and the debt.
•    The poor debtor because of disasters or calamities that befell him.
•    The debtor to reconcile between two persons.
•    The money guarantor on behalf of an insolvent man.
•    The deceased debtor if his inheritance does not fulfill the debt.
•    It is permissible to pay a debt for a person who wants to equip his daughters in case he becomes insolvent.
•    It is not permissible to pay off the debt of one whose debt is in disobedience (alcohol - gambling - usury).
•    It is not permissible to pay off the debt of a strong debtor’s acquired who is able to pay.

A committee to rehabilitate them within the community
Misr El Kheir Foundation is also making great efforts to rehabilitate these released prisoners within the community and empower them economically by providing them with job opportunities to ensure a decent life for them and their families in individual or combined projects.

Ways to receive The Zakat money:
To contribute with the Zakat funds in the Debtor campaign, Ashraf El Kady specified that The United Bank offers a set of innovative methods of support, whether traditional or digital in order to facilitate this humanitarian social work for the clients.

First: Digital ways to donate through the mobile banking service, the internet banking service, the digital wallet, as well as the interactive ATM machines, which are available 24 hours 7 days a week. It is also possible through the use of credit and prepaid cards, and depositing it in the account of Misr El Kheir Foundation "Zakat on the Debtors"

Second: the traditional methods, by visiting the customer to one of the 65 branches of The United Bank that are spread throughout the Republic, also, by directly calling the customer service number 19200.