By ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH: Over a third of charity activities in the Kingdom take place during the blessed month of Ramadan, a recent study said.

Saudis make 34.5 percent of their total annual cash donations in the month of Ramadan, said a study on the charity habits of people in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries prepared by the Jeddah-based International Center for Research and Studies (Medad). This is followed by Rabie Al-Awwal, the third month of the Hijra calendar, with 28.4 percent.

The other months when believers make large donations include Rabie Al-Thani (fourth Hijra month) and Dhul Hijjah (last month of the calendar), accounting for 11.6 percent of total yearly cash donations each.

The study revealed noncash donations in Ramadan accounted for 22.4 percent of such charity activity in the year.

This is followed by Muharram (the first month) with 12.4 percent and Dhul Al-Qaada (the 11th month) with 8.9 percent.

Food items accounted for 30.6 percent of noncash donations, followed by clothes, shoes and blankets at 15.5 percent and medical equipment at 12.1 percent.

Muslims tend to be more charitable in Ramadan compared to other months because of the belief that good deeds during this holy period earn them greater rewards from Almighty Allah than in other months, director of the center Khaled Al-Seraihi said.