Pilgrims have been warned against unauthorized individuals who are reportedly selling unofficial coupons for animal sacrifice to be performed by pilgrim before putting off 'Ihram' on Hajj. There had been reports of fake coupons being sold as well as money being collected by certain elements for sacrificing animals on behalf of pilgrims without actually doing so, during the previous years, official sources told APP here on Sunday. As a result, pilgrims faced problems because livestock was not sacrificed for them. The only authorized provider of sacrifice coupons in Saudi Arabia is the Saudi Project for Utilization of Hajj Meat, which is managed by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). Valid coupons are sold through Al-Rajhi Bank, the Al-Amoudi Exchange Co. and the Saudi Project for Utilization of Hajj Meat. On purchasing coupon for sacrifice from Al-Rajhi Bank, pilgrims are informed about the date and time when slaughtering would be done on their behalf so that they could put off 'Ihram'.
The Saudi Kingdom established the Saudi Project for Utilization of Haj Meat in 1403 AH to make maximum utilization of the sacrificial meat besides facilitating pilgrims. The meat is distributed among the poor there and exported to poor Muslims across the world. A shipment of meat would also be sent to Darfur this year.