Qurbani Meat at Islamic Relief

Qurbani means sacrifice and is an act of worship that takes place during the holy month of Dhul Hijjah, during the days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah). It is an act beloved to Allah (SWT), therefore it is important that one offers the best possible offering.

What meat does Islamic Relief UK use for Qurbani?

Islamic Relief carries out Qurbanis of sheep, goats and cows. In general, a sheep or goat is considered as one Qurbani, while a cow is divided into 7 shares and each share is considered one Qurbani. 

In most countries, we provide fresh Qurbani meat to vulnerable families, as animals are purchased and slaughtered locally.

However, in countries such as Jordan where fresh Qurbani is significantly more expensive, animals are slaughtered in Europe and shipped ready for distribution from the third day of Eid onwards. Offering chilled Qurbani meat in these countries enables us to offer a much more cost-effective alternative, without compromising on quality.

Can you eat the Qurbani meat you donate?

Here at Islamic Relief, all three portions of meat delivered through our Quality Assured Qurbani programme are distributed to those in need, whether that is in the UK or across the globe. Therefore, it isn’t possible to eat the Qurbani meat you donate. 

We have a scoring system in place to select those most in need, and for many families, the Qurbani meat you donate is the only meat they will eat in the whole year. 

In the UK, all Qurbanis are carried out by partner organisations to ensure compliance with food, health and safety standards.

Across the globe, our teams on the ground are extremely busy with slaughtering the animals, dividing them, packing the meat, transporting it to villages and distributing the Qurbani packages to the most vulnerable families.

Is it compulsory to give Qurbani meat?

According to the Hanafi madhab, Qurbani is compulsory for every sane adult Muslim male/female who has wealth in excess of his/her needs. If you’re eligible to pay Zakat, then you’re also obliged to give Qurbani.

The conditions and rules of Qurbani vary among other schools of thought (Madhab), so if you’re unsure of whether you must give Qurbani meat, please consult your local Imam. 

It is not compulsory to give all of your Qurbani meat to those in need, and traditionally Qurbani meat is donated into three shares: One part for oneself and family, one part to extended family and friends, and one part to those in need. 

Here at Islamic Relief, we donate all three of your shares to those in need, which helps earn great rewards and the pleasure of Allah (SWT). This also helps to bring joy to as many families in need as possible on Eid al-Adha, and allows them to celebrate the day free from worrying about how to feed their children.

Can we do Qurbani in the UK with meat?

Yes you can conduct a Qurbani in the UK with meat. As well as providing Qurbani meat to vulnerable families across the globe, Islamic Relief also run a Qurbani programme to help support impoverished communities here in the UK. 

The current cost of living crisis has seen food prices soar, and has meant that many families in the UK are struggling with poverty and unable to maintain a varied balanced diet.