As the time comes once again to pay Qurbani, we’ve created a simple guide to this sacred act of sacrifice to answer any questions you may have.
Qurbani (or ‘Udhiya’, an Arabic word meaning ‘blood sacrifice’) is the sacrifice of an animal for the glorification of Allah. The word Qurbani comes from ‘Qurban’, an Arabic term that means an act performed to seek God’s pleasure.
On the festival of Eid ul-Adha that marks the end of the sacred Hajj pilgrimage, Muslims around the world will follow in the footsteps of the Prophet by sacrificing an animal (or paying to have one sacrificed on their behalf) and distributing the meat to the poor and needy.
Each year, Muslims commemorate the obedience of the Prophet Ibrahim (as) by making an animal sacrifice to the glory of God. In a dream, Allah commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice his innocent son Ismail.
Although Ibrahim loved his son very much, he was willing to give him up because God had told him to. At the last minute, Allah provided a ram as an alternative sacrifice, sparing the life of Ismail.
To this day, Qurbani payments are made in honour of the Prophet Ibrahim’s surrender to the will of Allah. When we offer our Qurbani, we prove that we too are completely obedient to God and His commands.
Every adult Muslim of sound mind who possesses the nisab (minimum) level of wealth is required to pay Qurbani.
You can make your Qurbani payment anytime during the month of Hajj (Dhul Hijjah), but the sooner we receive it, the better chance we have of ensuring that the beneficiary will have their parcel in time for Eid ul-Adha.
The Qurbani animals themselves can be slaughtered from the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah until sunset on the 12th day. According to certain sources, the act of Qurbani is best performed directly after Eid prayers are over.
The animals commonly used for Qurbani are sheep, cows, goats and camels. They can be male or female but must be in good health and free from any defects. The goats and sheep must be at least one year old, cattle two years and camels five years old.
Each Qurbani animal makes up a certain number of shares. A small animal such as a sheep or goat counts as one Qurbani share, while larger animals like camels and cattle count as seven Qurbani shares each. You can buy as many shares as you like – one for each family member, and even for loved ones who have passed on.
This year, we’re distributing Qurbani parcels to families in 20 countries worldwide. For a full list of locations, please visit our Qurbani page here.
In the midst of a global food crisis, Qurbani parcels are more important than ever. This year, famine was declared in Yemen and parts of East Africa. More than 20 million people are at risk of starvation. In Yemen, 3.3 million children and pregnant or breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished.
In war-torn Syria, more than half of the country’s population – 9 million people – can’t find enough food to eat. Food prices have sky-rocketed while agriculture and food production stagnates, forcing families to spend up to 80% of their income on basic foodstuffs. The people of Palestine are also facing food poverty. 1 in 2 people living in Gaza go to bed every night with an empty stomach.
With more than 795 million people worldwide going hungry, your Qurbani payments are absolutely essential in providing vulnerable families with nutritious food and the knowledge that they are cared for and supported. The gift of Qurbani is also the gift of hope.
If you pay your Qurbani with Human Appeal, you can guarantee that all of your donation will reach those who need it most. We identify the families who would greatly benefit from a Qurbani parcel, and ensure that they receive the meat before Eid ul-Adha.
For many people, this will be the only time of year that they can eat meat. Our goal is to enable as many needy families as possible to enjoy nutritious food on the festival of Eid.
Give your Qurbani today.
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