Qurbani is an annual event that occurs on the festival of Eid-ul-Adha. Qurbani reflects upon the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and His act of devotion to Allah SWT. The time of Qurbani also falls after the annual pilgrimage of Hajj.
The act of Qurbani is to sacrifice an animal (cow, sheep, bull, goat or camel) for the sake of Allah SWT and to distribute its meat into three equal portions; one to be kept for yourself, one to be given to your neighbours and the final to be distributed to those in need. This act encourages humility, unity and equality in Islam.
There are, however, some rules to follow during Qurbani, some of which we have detailed below:
- Qurbani can only be carried out between the 10th and 12th days of the Islamic month Dhul-Hijah and can be arranged prior to those days, but the act itself must be carried out on the actual day of Eid-ul-Adha
- There are restrictions on the animals to be sacrificed. For example, the animal must be healthy and well nurtured as well as meeting a minimum age
- Qurbani is to be offered by baligh Muslims who meet the required criteria (be in possession of sufficient disposable wealth etc.)
- If the time of Qurbani is missed, then all eligible Muslims are liable to pay compensation
- The act of Qurbani can be performed on behalf of a deceased loved one
- Qurbani can be donated directly to countries in need via a reputable charity, such as Al Mustafa Welfare Trust
The Sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (AS)
The story of Prophet Ibrahim which the act of Qurbani stems from is a truly inspirational one. It reflects upon devotion and loyalty to one’s Creator and displays a graceful, selfless act of gratitude and commitment.
It is narrated that Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) was experiencing a recurring dream that Allah SWT was telling Him to sacrifice His son, Hazrat Ismail, and He took this as an instructional message from His Lord. Hazrat Ismail was precious to Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and was an incredibly obedient son. The Prophet took His son towards Mount Arafah in order to carry out this sacrifice. Shaitaan (the devil) made many attempts to stop Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) on His journey but he was unaffected by these diversions.
Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) explained the situation to Hazrat Ismail, to which Hazrat Ismail agreed that this sacrifice would be the right action to take. Hazrat Ismail requested that his father blindfold Himself in order to avoid seeing his son suffer. Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) tied Hazrat Ismail’s hands with a rope and placed a blindfold upon His own eyes and proceeded to carry out the act with a knife. When Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) removed His blindfold after the act, He was surprised and shocked to see a dead ram lying there in place of his beloved son – who was standing right next to him.
It was at this point that Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) realised that Allah SWT was testing Him and was very pleased with His obedient action and had replaced Hazrat Ismail with the ram instead.
Therefore, the act of Qurbani stems from this significant sacrifice and history created by Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) and is seen as an act of obedience in Islam.
See here for Al Mustafa Welfare Trust Qurbani 2018 prices.
Eid-ul-Adha 2020
The Festival of Eid-ul-Adha this year is estimated to fall on or around 30th July. The day of Eid-ul-Adha is recognised as the major feast of sacrifice in Islam and occurs on the tenth day of
The day before Eid-ul-Adha, which is the 9th day of the Islamic month, is a day of complete worship for those who are participating in the pilgrimage of Hajj.
During this Eid, Muslims worldwide attend their local Mosque and offer Eid salaah (prayers) in
Whilst we sit amongst our loved ones to enjoy a feast this Eid, it is important to remember those around the world who do not have the privilege of eating such a nourishing meal.
Qurbani 2020 Donations
The act of Qurbani not only teaches us about the importance of equality, but it also educates us on the importance of sacrifice. It serves as a valuable reminder that what we have in this world is merely just temporary and not ours in the long run; we are put here for a purpose and are our
Here at Al Mustafa Welfare Trust, we have been delivering your Qurbani donations to millions of people in need since 1983. You can donate your Qurbani 2020 with Al Mustafa Welfare Trust and ensure your contribution goes towards feeding those most in need around the world.
We currently distribute Qurbani in Pakistan, Gaza, Kashmir, Burma, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Gambia, Sudan and Sierra Leone. We also aim to distribute your donations to Burmese refugees in Bangladesh and Syrian refugees in Turkey to ensure we reach out to support as many brothers and sisters as we can who are suffering as a result of world disaster or world conflict.
Many of these brothers and sisters do not even have the most basic of essentials such as clothing, shelter or clean, safe water for sanitation purposes.
For more information on submitting your Qurbani donation with Al Mustafa Welfare Trust this year, please see here.
