Tag: Qurban

Thanks to your generosity, our partners on the ground worked tirelessly to deliver fresh qurban meat to families in need across 17 countries during Eid al-Adha. Because of amazing people like you, our global Islamic Relief family distributed approximately 600,000 Qurbani meat packs in 30 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the United States. 

Alhamdulillah, together, we reached approximately 3 million people! Your compassion for people in need ensured we could achieve the best ever Qurban campaign in Islamic Relief’s history. 

When we all work together to care for our sisters and brothers in need, incredible things happen. This noble endeavour would not be possible without the help of donors like you. 

To all of you that help make giving possible, thank you for spreading joy this Qurban/Udhiyah season.

May Allah (swt) bless you with the best in this life and in the HereAfter. 

Here are just some of the people who have benefitted from our 2020 Global Qurban Program:  

Afghanistan:

Pakistan:

Bangladesh:

Kenya:

Lebanon:

Gaza:

The Lead up to Qurban

Dhul-Hijjah is upon us, a truly special time of the year where Muslims from all around the world can ask forgiveness from Allah for any potential shortcomings they may have had. Fasting is also sunnah during the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah. Bringing with it the equivalent reward to that of staying up during Laylatul Qadr, it’s really that powerful.
“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days.” (Bukhari)

The Big Day: Eid

As the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah draw to a close, and we complete our ninth fast, our attention turns to one of the most blessed, joyful and celebrated days of the year, Eid al-Adha. With the arrival of Eid al-Adha comes the reason we celebrate, Qurban. The act of offering Qurban is obligatory for all Muslims and carries with it a powerful significance, but just what is that significance?

The Magic of Qurbani

Offering Qurban isn’t just a chance to celebrate Eid-al-Adha, it’s a period of remembrance, remembering the sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim made to Allah in his willingness to forgo his son in the name of Allah. It is during this holy period that we should remember those less fortunate, and exercise our willingness to bring them joy during this special time.

Beyond an Animal 

Donating your Qurban is about more than just providing meat to a family in need. It’s about recognising the importance of not being attached to worldly desires, and truly submitting ourselves to the will of Allah. Acknowledging that there is nothing more important than attaining Allah’s love and a special place in the Hereafter.

Prophet Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son to fulfil Allah’s wish, no greater sacrifice for a parent. This shows us just that, Allah seeks only our love and in return gifts us with his boundless mercy, which we should never take for granted. 

“Indeed, my Salat, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin” (Surah Al An’am – 6:162)

To visit our Qurban page to donate, please visit: https://www.qurban.islamic-relief.com.au/donate-now/

Peran Bussu is a 75-year-old Rohingya refugee who was forcibly displaced from his home and now lives in a refugee camp in Bangladesh with his family.

The family have been living in dire conditions and have struggled with everyday tasks since they were displaced.

“Now that I am 75 years old I am no longer able to work and my memory has been affected. Most of the time I struggle to remember things. As a refugee it is very difficult to get a job…most of the time we depend on charitable food donations”, says Peran.

With the lack of a reliable income, Peran and his family face great difficulty when it comes to being able to eat regular, balanced meals. In particular, having the opportunity to eat meat is almost impossible.

“We try our best to run a household but there is little work for us, so we rely on relief goods. Meat is not cooked in our home for months on end. It is impossible for us to buy meat…over the last two years, the idea of eating meat is like a dream. When we were in Myanmar we were able to eat meat a few times a week, but in the last two years we have only been able to have it three or four times in total. I am sure this affects our health. We can’t purchase enough food to live sufficiently, but we depend on Allah”, says Peran.

Last year, Islamic Relief’s gift of qurban was warmly welcomed by Peran and his family.

“Eid al-Adha commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (AS) and is important for us to remember. I remember Eid in my country but as a refugee we cannot afford to sacrifice any animals right now. A few days before Eid my wife asked me about how we will spend the day when we have no money and no meat to eat. I told her that only Allah knows how it will be.

“Then I heard that Islamic Relief had arranged some Qurban meat for us. Over the last two years we have been able to celebrate Eid because of these donations. Apart from Islamic Relief and their donors people have forgotten about us. Thank you all for staying with us”, says Peran.

To visit our Qurban page to donate, please visit: https://www.qurban.islamic-relief.com.au/donate-now/

Qurban 2020: Father of five Ajmal Khan from Pakistan has a visual impairment which has meant that he is unable to find a job and struggles to support his family.

“I cannot get a proper job due to my visual disability, and my children are too young to work or help… my visual impairment is the biggest challenge for me as I can’t take care of my children like other parents. If they get sick I am unable to take them to hospital, if they need help with chores, I would just end up creating more difficulties”, says Ajmal.

“Sometimes my children have to sleep with empty bellies and more often than not my wife and I have to fast to survive the day.

“We don’t have the money to do qurbani ourselves, but we agree with its essence. Eid al-Adha is of great importance to us because it provides us with the opportunity to eat meat and also to connect with Allah and thank Him for all the blessings He has provided to us”, says Ajmal.

Receiving the gift of qurban offers relief to Ajmal and his family.

“Our routine on Eid is similar to all other days, the only difference is we have meat to eat. We cannot afford meat throughout the rest of the year.

“We try to make the food as nice as possible to make our children happy. We try to cook the meat in small quantities in combination with other vegetables. This way our children can have nutritious food for an entire month.

“Islamic Relief’s meat distribution is a source of happiness for people in our community because this allows them to join in the Eid festivities like everyone else. The meat packs put smiles on our children’s faces”, says Ajmal.

To visit our Qurban page to donate, please visit: https://www.qurban.islamic-relief.com.au/donate-now/

Giving your Qurban (a sacrifice) is a sacred duty ordered by Allah (SWT). Every year during the holy month of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims all over the world slaughter an animal – a goat, sheep, cow, or camel – to reflect the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail, for the sake of God.

What are the Qurbani rules?

Who needs to give Qurbani? When do we offer our sacrifice? Are there any other things we need to take into consideration?

Worry not! We’ve put together everything you need to know about this sacred sacrifice.

Qurban Rule #1: Sacrifice is a sacred obligation

According to most Muslims, giving Qurban or Udhiya is obligatory for every sane adult Muslim who has wealth in excess to their needs (i.e. who meets the nisab threshold).

Normally those who are eligible to pay Zakat are obliged to give Qurban.

The Hanafi school of thought states that it is obligatory for:

• Every sane Muslim of mature age (who has reached puberty)
• Non-travelling persons
• Those who additionally own wealth which is beyond their needs, equal to (or more than) the current level of nisab (87.48 grams of gold or 612.35 grams of silver)

Qurban Rule #2: Your sacrifice must be given on time

Islamic Relief aims to implement all Qurbans over three days (10^th to 12^th Dhul Hijjah).

The time for sacrifice ends when the sun sets on the fourth day. Therefore, you can make payments right up until the end of the third day after Eid (13th of Dhul Hijjah) before Maghrib salah. However, we advise giving your Qurbani as early as possible.

Note: There is a difference of opinion amongst the scholars as to whether Qurbans can be done over three or four days. To respect this difference of opinion, Islamic Relief strives to perform Qurbans in three days. We only extend into the fourth day in localities where this is religiously accepted by the local Muslim population. – and if there is an operational need for this extra day.

We purchase the animals to be slaughtered in advance based on forecasted quotas. Hence, if you give a Qurban on any of these days, the Qurban will be carried out in time.

Qurban Rule #3: Offering a sacrifice comes with restrictions

For those who want to offer a sacrifice, it’s recommended that once the new moon of Dhul Hijjah appears (i.e. on the 1st of Dhul Hijjah), he does not remove anything from his hair, nails, or skin until he has offered the sacrifice.

Reap the rewards of the blessed days of Dhul Hijjah, give your Qurban now: HERE

Offering your Qurban or Udhiya is an obligation from Allah (SWT). For families living in poverty, your Qurban donations offer a vital helping hand. Alhamdulillah, year after year, your generous Qurbani donations enable us to provide much-needed relief to struggling communities – all over the world.

Last year alone, our global family supported over 3.1 million people in 34 countries across the globe, including across Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe – all because of the generosity of people like YOU.

When you donate with us, rest assured that your Qurbani reaches some of the most hungry and vulnerable communities so they can enjoy safe, fresh halal meat on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

In 2019, just one of the many places where your Qurbani served families in need was Afghanistan.

Years of war, ongoing instability and natural disasters have left many people in Afghanistan struggling to survive. Ingrained poverty is leading many parents to struggle to feed and look after their children.

With over a third of Afghans living on less than $1.90 a day – not even the price of a takeaway coffee – poverty kills more people than conflict.

As a result, children are left malnourished, with 41% suffering from stunted growth as they aren’t getting the nutrients they need.

Aminata’s Story

Aminata Samake, is a 36-year-old mother of two and a small trader who lives in Mali. She has two daughters, Almoussa and Fanawele, aged four and ten respectively. As a widow and someone with disabilities, it has been very difficult for Aminata to support her family on her own.

“My family incomes comes from the small trade I am doing which consists of selling traditional medicines. I am the only one to take care of the family. Due to my disability, it is very difficult for me to cover all my children needs. Most of the time, I cannot provide the three required meal to my children. It is my neighbour sends us the remaining of their food. The sponsorship allowance of my daughter, Almoussa, helps me to buy food too,” she says.

2018 was the second year she benefitted from your generous donation.

“Qurban Meat Pack is so important for my children and me. It is my second time I benefitted from it. Before Islamic Relief, we used to spend many Eids without eating meat. Sometimes, we got meat from generous neighbours. Ever since we started receiving meat from Islamic Relief, my children are so happy.”

As meat is scarce and expensive, Aminata and her children do not have the luxury of eating meat. She commented:

“Oh meat!! I do not remember the last time we ate meat. My children and I can spend several months without eating even a small piece.”

She is also on the receives support from Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship and Ramadan programs and is very grateful for all the assistance she receives.

“I do thank IR and its generous donors. Without IR I would be begging now. I say this, as I did not have any means to find food for me and my family…ensuring their education. Now, we need good income generating activities in our community. ”

Written by Mohd Zarith Md Hanipah

What is Eid al-Adha?

Eid al-Adha, known as the festival of sacrifice, is an Islamic holiday that commemorates our beloved Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) and the momentous act of submission he made – his willingness to give up what he loved most, his one and only son, Ismail, for the sake of Allah (SWT).

When is Eid al-Adha 2019?

Eid al-Adha 2019 will be celebrated on Monday, 12 August 2019 depending on the moon sighting for the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar, Dhul Hijjah.

What is Qurban?

Qurban means sacrifice. Every year, during Eid al-Adha, Muslims around the world slaughter an animal – typically a sheep, goat, camel or cow – to commemorate the Prophet Ibrahim and his ultimate sacrifice.

The animal sacrificed is then divided into three equal portions with one third shared with the needy, one third distributed to relatives and neighbours, and the remainder kept for one’s own family.

Who is obliged to give Qurban?

Qurban is mandatory for every Muslim who has reached the age of puberty, and who can afford it.

When should I give my Qurban?

It is best to purchase your Qurban as early as possible.

The sacrifice can be made any day from the first day of Eid al-Adha (10^th of Dhul Hijjah) to the 13^th of Dhul Hijjah.

It is better to carry out the sacrifice immediately after the Eid prayer as the Messenger (PBUH) used to do, with his first meal on the day of Eid being meat from the sacrifice.

Why donate your Qurban to Islamic Relief?

When you donate your Qurban to Islamic Relief, we prioritise providing meat to the most vulnerable families across the world during the holy season.

Our international teams work hard to get your donation to the most hard to reach regions and conflict-affected areas, including Myanmar, Palestine, Syria and Yemen.

Typically, meat is sourced locally in order to support the local economy and distributed fresh, though, in difficult situations like conflict zones, we may send frozen meat so it can arrive to our recipients in good condition. All logistics—from sacrifice to transportation—are handled in accordance with Islamic principles, and with the best hygienic practices possible. Each pack contains 2-5 kilograms of meat and feeds a family of approximately 4-8 people.

Nakhla is a 35-year-old widow and mother of three young children from Yemen. Since losing her husband, the family breadwinner, seven years ago, Nakhla relies on loans from her family and neighbours as well as financial assistance from Islamic Relief to provide the basics for her family.

However, there are some days Nakhla still struggles to put nutritious meals on the table for her kids, often forgoing meat when she doesn’t have enough money for groceries.

“Lack of meat affects the health of my children…Most of the time we eat rice, potatoes and vegetables. If we lack the money we stay without food for one day or more. The hardest feeling [is] when my children go to school and they are hungry, I feel sad,” she says.

Last year, during Eid al-Adha, Islamic Relief provided fresh Qurban meat packs to Nakhla’s family and helped them make the most of the festive season. “The meat provided by Islamic Relief [was] enough for four days. My kids love meat and they become happy and enjoy Eid with their favourite dish…they [Islamic Relief] draw a smile in the faces of my children and other needy children.”

Remember, the charity you give today will be your legacy tomorrow. Give Qurban.

In 2018, Nakhla’s family in Yemen was just one of the many vulnerable families your gift of fresh Qurban meat helped during Eid al-Adha. With your generosity, we were able to create lasting memories for vulnerable families everywhere. This year again, they are relying on you to help make their Eid al-Adha a happy one.