Eid is a special time of year. Not just for Muslims, but many people around the world are receiving the benefits of Eid.
Why? Because during Eid, there is an emphasis on charitable giving for the needy and the vulnerable. It promotes empathy, care, and concern through the act of sacrifice (Udhiya/Qurbani).
In 2021, “the UN World Food Programme’s live Hunger Map aggregates 957 million people across 93 countries who do not have enough to eat”. Eid is an opportunity to provide relief to many of these hungry communities globally.
How? Well, let’s run through a scenario.
Imagine a family living under the poverty line. It’s a pandemic, and food and water become increasingly harder to put on the table every night. Now imagine the faces of this family when they hear they will receive the donation of Qurbani from Eid. Finally, the blessed opportunity to have enough food to cook several delicious meat dishes is coming their way to satisfy their hunger—a chance to feel satiated and nourished.
During Eid al-Adha, Muslims worldwide have the opportunity, and many are obliged to donate such a delicacy!
Over a billion Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid twice a year, with the most well-known celebration being the one following the holy month of Ramadan, Eid ul-Fitr.
However, the second Eid of the year, called Eid-al-Adha, is also just as significant and sacred. Eid al-Adha brings immense joy to the most vulnerable communities around the world through your Udhiya/Qurbani.
Eid al-Adha, also known as the “Celebration of Sacrifice,” is celebrated on the 10th day of the twelfth month of the Islamic Calendar, Dhul Hijjah. This event also marks the end of the Hajj or the Pilgrimage. The Hajj is an event that nearly 2.5 million Muslims perform annually in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This year, Eid al-Adha will start on the evening of July 19th and last until the evening of July 23rd, 2021.
Eid al-Adha uniquely celebrates the devotion of Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail (peace be upon them both) to Allah. Allah ordered Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his first-born son, Ismail, through a dream:
“And when he reached [the age of] exertion, he said, “O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think.” He said, “O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast. And when they had both submitted, and he put him down upon his forehead, We called to him, “O Abraham, you have fulfilled the vision.” Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. Indeed, this was a clear trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice. And We left for him [favourable mention] among later generations.” (Quran 37:102-108)
Prophet Ibrahim was prepared to sacrifice his son, despite how painful the outcome may be. But at that very moment, Allah stopped his hand. This was a test from Allah to assess Prophet Ibrahim’s dedication to the command of Allah. Instead of Ismail, Ibrahim then sacrificed an animal, a ram, as an act of worship.
Did you know? The story of Prophet Ibrahim almost sacrificing one of his sons is a shared story amongst faiths of monotheism?
Every year, Muslims sacrifice an animal, just like Prophet Ibrahim, and distribute a portion of the meat to others in the community. This act of giving sacrificed meat is called Qurbani. In Arabic, another term used is Udhiya.
Qurbani is the sacrificing of an animal intending to draw nearer to Allah by giving some or all of the meat to the poor and needy. Qurbani meat can come from several different types of animals, such as lamb, goats, cows and camels. But not all animals are considered an equal amount of Qurbani!
A sheep or goat is considered the equivalent of one portion of Qurbani. However, cows and camels are larger animals and are considered seven portions of Qurbani. That means you would only need one-seventh of a cow or camel to fulfil the requirements of meeting your obligation.
To know if you can perform the Udhiya, you need to determine if you are eligible for Zakat first. That means you need to have enough income that passes the threshold of nisaab. You can learn more about that in one of our previous posts on Zakat here.
Likewise, those who are eligible to receive Zakat can also obtain your Qurbani donation.
Your Qurbani is to be divided into three different sections:
However, you can donate more than one-third of your Qurbani to the poor and needy.
We are reminded of the importance of ensuring our community is fed with what the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said:
“A person is not a believer who fills his stomach while his neighbor goes hungry.” (Bukhari)
With 2021 being a challenging year for families on the brink of surviving a pandemic. What better way to welcome Eid than with a luxury of meat for dinner?
The Udhiya can be done immediately after Eid prayer up until the 13th day of Dhul Hijjah. Suppose it is not an option to sacrifice an animal yourself. In that case, you can donate to a charity to perform and distribute the meat for you on your behalf.
However, if you opt to have an organization (HCI) complete the Qurbani on your behalf, donate ahead of time to ensure that your share of livestock is assigned to you and ready for Udhiya.
Qurbani will differ from region to region depending on the cost of meat. Human Concern International emphasizes providing essentials to communities that need it the most. That way, you can maximize your benefits from your Qurbani donation.
Starting at $60, you can donate to the region of your choice. Some areas where meat is more of a premium may require more than $60.
Check out our Qurbani page for more details.