QURBANI 2024

Our Qurbani program uses 100% Halal meat. We do our best to always source animals locally to support the local economy, and distribute meat fresh to our beneficiaries. Only in difficult situations like conflict zones or in the case of very remote communities, we may send frozen or canned meat so it can arrive to the recipients in the best condition. All logistics—from sacrifice to transportation—are handled in accordance with Islamic principles, while working to uphold the best hygienic practices.

The volume of Qurbani is represented by the allocations committed for each country. For donors, the following information can help you calculate your donation:

1 Sheep or Goat = 1 Qurbani whilst 1 Cow = 7 Qurbani shares (One Qurbani share equals 1/7th of the cow).

Islamic Relief performs Qurbani as part of our overall seasonal program. Therefore, the people who benefit in Ramadan and from our general projects, Insha’Allah, would also benefit from Qurbani . 

This allows us to focus our efforts and help the same people to improve their lives, rather than providing small amounts of help occasionally but not achieving great successes.

The majority of Qurbanis are implemented as fresh meat distributions which take place immediately as the animals are sacrificed and divided. Local butchers and Imams are on hand to facilitate the humane and Shariah compliance of the slaughter with rights-holders often present in order to provide logistical support.

In some countries because of the distance from abattoir to distribution sites, meat is hygienically packed and chilled before transportation. Due to the large numbers of Qurbani performed in some field offices, it is sometimes not possible to distribute Qurbani meat on the same day that the slaughter takes place. In this instance, meat is stored in cool storage before transportation on the following day/s.

In the face of any technical failures beyond our control, Islamic Relief works to ensure that there is no compromise to the quality and safety of the Qurbani meat packs, or the validity and acceptability of the sacrifice. Alhamdulillah, the experience and hard work of our staff and volunteers has enabled us to discharge this duty on behalf of the donor with the highest quality standards for the past 30 years.

No, as Islamic Relief is conducting hundreds of thousands of Qurbanis around the world, this is practically not possible. It is also not necessary to pronounce the name of the person, even if you are making a Qurbani on behalf of someone else. Simply making the intention that you are giving this Qurban on behalf of a certain person is sufficient.

The time for sacrifice ends when the sun sets on the fourth day of Eid. Therefore, you can make payments right up until the end of the third day after Eid (13th of Dhul-Hijjah) before Maghrib prayer. Islamic Relief has already pre-purchased the animals to be slaughtered.

It is advisable to give as early as possible. Islamic Relief implements our Qurbani over 4 days (10th to 13th Dhul Hijjah). We purchase the animals to be slaughtered in advance based on forecasted quotas. Hence if you give a Qurbani on any of these days, the Qurbani will be carried out in time.

Since Qurbani is an act of worship that is the most beloved to Allah (SWT) during the days of Tashreeq, it is important that one offers the best possible offering. Therefore Islamic Relief adopts high quality standards when it comes to selecting the sacrificial animals. Standards cover health, weight (meat yielded) and age.

Admin charges are necessary in order to perform the Qurbani as they cover the cost of transportation, slaughtering, cutting, packing, distribution and hire of staff as well as organizational support costs.

Yes, all the various expenses such as the cost of the animal, slaughter, butchering, transportation, storage, selection of the beneficiaries, and Qurbani distribution are included in the price.

Qurban is performed through Islamic Relief field offices in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Islamic Relief field offices purchase and slaughter animals locally. If there are problems with livestock supply in a particular country (due to limited local supply, natural disaster etc.) then animals are sourced and slaughtered abroad, and then shipped to the affected countries. All animals are sacrificed according to Islamic guidelines.

Qurbani in 2024 will be performed after the Eid Salah in each field office.  The slaughter will take place after the Eid prayer on Eid al-Adha (10th Dhul Hijjah) and end at sunset on the 13th of Dhul Hijjah.  There is a difference of opinion amongst the scholars as to whether Qurbani can be done over three or four days. To respect this difference of opinion, Islamic Relief strives to perform Qurbani 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.

If you give a Qurbani on any of these days, the Qurban will still be carried out in time, as Islamic Relief has already pre-purchased the animals to be slaughtered beforehand.

The animals used are livestock animals, such as sheep, goats, cows or buffalo. One whole sheep or goat, or one-seventh share of a cow or buffalo equals one Qurbani donatio . Since the selection of animals depends on the availability and customs of each region, we do not provide the option of selecting your animal of choice at the time of donation. Animals are instead pre-allocated within each region. We ensure that the animals are healthy, free from blindness and chronic sickness or disease or from any apparent ailment, and that they are of a fit age.

You may wish to undertake one Qurbani in Canada with Islamic Relief and one abroad as an example and this is permissible. You are allowed to offer more than one sacrifice. The Prophet (SAW) himself carried out multiple Qurbani for himself and the Ummah. Many Muslims offer multiple Qurbani on behalf of the Prophet (SAW) and for deceased parents.

This depends on the school of thought you follow. Please consult your local Imam/Sheikh for further information. According to the Hanafi school of thought it Qurbani donation 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 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver

We do not require the names, as the practice of reciting the name upon sacrificing is logistically very difficult to fulfill due to the vast requests we receive during this season. This is similar to the practice of offering sacrifice while on Hajj. The scholars have approved the sacrifice without the names as long as the intention of the person was made. We encourage everyone to make their intention when donating their Qurban .

We are not able to give Qurbani to specific orphans; the scale of the operation makes this exceptionally difficult. However, orphans are a high priority in our programs; therefore they not only benefit from donors’ sponsorship, but also benefit from receiving other support in Ramadan and Qurbani .

Within some schools of thought in the Islamic tradition, it is a recommended act to avoid cutting your hair and nails from the 1st of Dhul Hijjah until your Qurbani is performed. As Islamic Relief performs all sacrifices between the 10th of Dhul Hijjah to the 13th of Dhul Hijjah, it would be safest to wait until sunset of the 13th of Dhul Hijjah to trim one’s nails and hair.

Eid al-Adha is sometimes referred to as Qurbani Eid , and follows the completion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Depending on the country, the celebrations of Eid al-Adha (10th Dhul Hijjah) can last anywhere between two and four days. The Qurbani (sacrifice) is carried out following the Eid prayers on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, which are performed in congregation.