Muscat – Despite continued enforcement efforts, instances of begging have reappeared in parts of Muscat during Ramadan, with residents reporting cases in mosques, near shopping centres and increasingly across social media platforms.
The phenomenon – repeatedly cautioned against by authorities – appears to increase during Ramadan, when charitable giving traditionally rises. While genuine hardship cannot be ruled out in some cases, citizens have voiced concern that organised and opportunistic appeals are exploiting the spirit of the season.
Muscat Daily observed several such incidents in recent days and spoke to residents who called for stronger community cooperation with authorities to curb the practice.
Khalid Al Khanbashi, a media specialist from Mutrah, said individuals soliciting money after congregational prayers are seen in some mosques.
“I have witnessed this repeatedly, particularly after Maghrib and Friday prayers,” he said. “In many cases, the individual is accompanied by a small child presented as ill or disabled, making the appeal highly emotional.”
He recalled an incident in which a mosque imam intervened, reminding worshippers that begging inside mosques is prohibited under instructions issued by the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs.
Al Khanbashi warned that tolerating such behaviour risks normalising it. “If this practice continues unchecked, it sends a message that it is acceptable. That encourages others, especially in areas perceived as more generous.”
Residents also reported cases outside shopping centres and in residential neighbourhoods.
Amir Al Balushi from Seeb said a man approached worshippers after afternoon prayers claiming his son was ill and requesting financial assistance. “We should not respond without verification. Suspected cases should be reported to the Ministry of Social Development,” he said, adding that direct handouts can contribute to spreading of the practice.
In Bausher, Sulaiman Al Amri said he was approached outside a shopping centre by a woman carrying a child. He added that the phenomenon has expanded beyond physical spaces. “Appeals now arrive through WhatsApp messages and social media platforms. Begging has effectively become electronic.”
Ibrahim Al Ramli, an imam at a mosque in Seeb, described begging as a practice that undermines dignity and harms the image of society. He stressed the fact that involving children in such acts amounts to exploitation and violates their rights.
He noted that Islam encourages lawful work and self-reliance, permitting public solicitation only in cases of extreme necessity, while underscoring the role of state institutions and licensed charitable organisations in ensuring assistance reaches those genuinely in need through regulated and dignified channels.
Al Ramli urged the public to refrain from encouraging professional beggars and instead channel donations through recognised charitable bodies, particularly during Ramadan when generosity is at its peak.
Begging in mosques, on roads, at commercial centres and in other public places is socially unacceptable and strictly prohibited under Omani law. The practice was criminalised under Royal Decree No 7/2018.
The law stipulates that anyone found begging in a public or private place faces imprisonment of two to 12 months. Offenders may also be fined between RO50 and RO100, while expatriates convicted of begging are subject to deportation.
