“What concerns us most is working for the welfare of your religion and your worldly affairs. Our sole aim is to seek what brings you comfort and eases your burdens.”
His Majesty continued:
“You have become accustomed to traveling to Riyadh every year to receive your stipends. We have seen how this yearly journey imposes hardship upon you, costing you effort, money, and fatigue. We have therefore judged it to be in your best interest that your stipends be doubled, and that we relieve you of the hardship of travel. We will instead send appointed committees to your settlements and towns, delivering each person’s stipend to him directly—doubled—without requiring him to travel to Riyadh.”
He added:
“This will spare you the difficulties of travel and allow you to devote your time to what benefits you—whether in agriculture or in raising livestock. It will also give us more time to look after your welfare and the welfare of the nation.”
His Majesty explained the new arrangements:
“We have instructed a committee to depart after the Hajj season. Whoever resides in a settlement will receive his stipend there; whoever lives in a town will receive it in his town; and those among the Bedouin will be met by the committees at the wells during the zakat season.”
Out of compassion for the people, His Majesty added:
“Anyone who had a regular stipend from us and has passed away, leaving behind children or widows, will have his stipend continued—doubled—for the sake of his dependents. We have also ordered that the residents of settlements and the Bedouin who previously had no stipends but are deserving of our gifts be granted stipends equal to those of their peers, so that all rightful recipients may be included. Once the committees verify these cases, we shall approve them annually, God willing, and the stipends will reach you wherever you are.”
His Majesty then announced a major administrative reform:
“Accordingly, beginning from the first of Dhu al‑Hijjah 1373, we have ordered the complete abolition of the ‘Manākhah’ system. Those entitled to stipends should await the gifts that will reach them, God willing, through the committees at the beginning of the new year, where each of you will receive double the usual amount, as we have stated.”
He concluded with a prayer:
“We ask God to make this a source of good for us and for you, to grant victory to His religion, to exalt His word, and to guide us and you to what He loves and is pleased with.”