Is it better for an elderly woman, who has 40,000 Saudi Riyals and is accustomed to spending Ramadan in Mecca with the same amount, to continue staying in Mecca for worship, or to remain in Riyadh and spend the money on various charitable causes such as sponsoring Umrahs for new Muslims (as an Umrah costs approximately 150 Riyals), sponsoring orphans, supporting Quran memorization circles, building mosques, digging wells, and assisting the poor?

It is best for a woman to go to Mecca to perform Umrah, then return, and not remain there longer than necessary. She should give in charity any surplus of her expenses, because the benefits of charity outweigh the benefits of residing in Mecca, especially since charity can sometimes be superior to voluntary Hajj and Umrah. Moreover, there is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding the desirability of residing [in Mecca]. Thus, charity, which has far-reaching benefits, is preferable to mere residence.