CAIRO: MP Sheikh Al-Sayed Askar criticized the recent decision by Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Mohamed Sayed Tantawy, to set a minimum zakat payment of LE 4 to mark Eid El-Fitr. Zakat El-Fitr is alms to be paid by Muslims after the holy month of Ramadan. In a statement, Askar, who is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and is a member of the People's Assembly's religious committee, said that the set amount is too small. "Why do we want to cheat the poor from this opportunity after the holy month? Askar asked. "This amount is not practical concerning the bad economic circumstances that everyone is going through this year, he added. Tantawy had apparently based his decision on the same principle. According to his official statement, Tantawy said that the decision came in sympathy with "the recent bad economic circumstances that people have passed through last year in the aftermath of the global economic crisis. The amount of LE 4 was set because it is the minimum cost of wheat. However Tantawy encouraged Muslims to pay more, if their economic and social status allowed them to do so.
