Charity Department

The beginning of this venerable charitable entity, which, by the grace of God Almighty, is today considered one of the largest personal endowments in the entire Islamic world, started with a self-made man who built himself from scratch. This man lived a life of hardship and struggle, starting his life from zero. He is Sheikh Saleh bin Abdulaziz Al-Rajhi (may God have mercy on him), a prominent businessman whose name became well-known among merchants and businessmen and was associated with numerous charitable and benevolent works.

From adversity, men are born, and from the heart of tribulations, gifts emerge. Sheikh Saleh (may God have mercy on him) engaged in various jobs, trades, and crafts, never shying away from any work that was not forbidden. He believed that these jobs sufficed him from needing others, and he strove to earn his living from his birth in Al-Bukairiyah until his death (may God have mercy on him). Despite facing numerous hardships and trials, he persevered with patience, struggled, and exerted effort until he built a vast commercial empire and made a name and a reputation to be emulated in the world of finance and business. It never occurred to him that he would reach such a level of wealth—wealth in money, wealth in charitable work, and wealth in the love and prayers of people.

In the year 1417 AH, Sheikh Saleh bin Abdulaziz Al-Rajhi (may God have mercy on him) established the Saleh Abdulaziz Al-Rajhi Endowments Administration. This major endowment institution, which bears his name, is responsible for overseeing, managing, and supervising the endowments (real estate and farms) he dedicated. It also handles the disbursement of their profitable, investment, and productive returns to the charitable channels specified in the endowment deed.

The estimated value of these endowments currently exceeds 12 billion Saudi Riyals, making it one of the largest private Islamic endowment institutions of our time. Those familiar with the programs and charitable works carried out by this blessed institution during its relatively short existence praise God for the presence of wealthy Muslims who establish such significant endowments, the proceeds of which are used to support the needy and impoverished in Muslim communities.