Qurbani 2023 – Donate online now

In 2023, Islamic Relief’s Qurbani distributions aim to reach more people than ever before

What is Qurbani?

Qurbani means sacrifice. Every year during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims around 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. In 2023, Qurbani distributions will aim to reach more people than ever before.

After the animal has been sacrificed, its meat is then distributed to those most in need. You can also find out more about how Islamic Relief distributes Qurbani meat in the frequently asked questions below.

Donating Qurbani is highly recommended according to the majority of scholars and obligatory in the Hanafi Madhab for every Muslim who is financially able to do so. There are also Qurbani rules which dictate which animals can be sacrificed, the quality of the life it has led, its health status and guidelines on how the sacrifice must be carried out.

By donating your Qurbani to Islamic Relief, you will enable the world’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities in over 30 countries to enjoy Eid, as this is the only time many families eat meat in the entire year.

Give Qurbani Online

You can simply give Qurbani online by using the above calculator. Islamic Relief conducts Qurbanis around the world, and the prices vary depending on the cost of animals in the local areas where the sacrifice will be carried out. Allah (SWT) tells us in the Holy Qur’an:

So turn in prayer towards your Lord and sacrifice.

Qu'ran | 108:2

Qurbani Donation

Throughout our lives, each and every one of us makes sacrifices to help our friends, family and neighbours. Therefore by sacrificing what we have to help those in need, we offer crucial solidarity and hope. Right now, a staggering 1 in 9 people worldwide are battling chronic hunger. However, there is hope: by giving Qurbani, you can feed a family in need this Eid.

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah (the 10 best days) are the most sacred days of the year, loved by Allah (SWT). Therefore, by giving to Islamic Relief, you can reap the rewards of this blessed month. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days

Hadith | Sahih al-Bukhari

Who is eligible for Qurbani?

Islamic Relief has a set criteria and scoring systems in place to determine Qurbani recipients. The scoring system is based on the following criteria:

A thorough assessment is therefore carried out by our teams to objectively identify the weighting and priority of each of the above criteria. These are then applied when selecting recipient families to ensure we reach the most vulnerable without bias.

Who has to give Qurbani?

According to most Muslims, Qurbani is highly recommended and according to the Hanafi madhab, it is obligatory upon every sane adult Muslim male/female who has wealth in excess to his/her needs. Therefore, normally those who are eligible to pay Zakat are obliged to give Qurbani.

When is Qurbani 2023 performed?

Qurbani will be performed after the Eid Salah in each field office. The slaughter will take place from after the Eid prayer on Eid al-Adha (10th Dhul Hijjah) and ends up to sunset of the 13th 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. However, 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 Qurbani will still be carried out in time, as Islamic Relief has already purchased the animals to be slaughtered beforehand.

When is Qurbani Eid 2023?

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, which are performed in congregation.

How much is Qurbani? How are your prices defined?

Since Qurbani is an act of worship that is the most beloved to Allah (SWT) during the days of Tashreek, 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.

We would also like our brothers and sisters around the world to receive the best quality meat because the believer is asked to love for his brother/sister that which he/she loves for him/herself. These high standards therefore come at a higher cost which in turn further supports economic development of our Qurbani farmers.

Islamic Relief always tries to reach the most vulnerable people in the most remote areas where the communities are hard to reach. However, transporting meat to hard-to-reach rural areas incurs higher transportation costs which in turn affects the Qurbani price. Conflict or disasters can make distribution more difficult and can add to the cost.

How much Qurbani should I give? Can I give more than one Qurbani?

You may wish to undertake more than one Qurbani and this is permissible. The Prophet (peace be upon him) himself carried out multiple Qurbani for himself and the Ummah.

Qurbani to over four million people

Last year alone, your donations enabled us to provide quality meat to over 4 million vulnerable people across 28 countries such as Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Syria.

Alhamdulillah, your donations provided a critical source of protein to vulnerable families and individuals across the globe.

Here at Islamic Relief, we ensure that only the best quality meat is used – all sacrificed according to Prophetic tradition. We therefore don’t compromise on quality and we deal with local suppliers to help local economies flourish.

So as we remember the struggle and dedication of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice for the sake of Allah, make your sacrifice with Islamic Relief and support a family in need.

This Dhul Hijjah reap the rewards of the 10 best days. Donate Now.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is the policy of Islamic Relief that the selected beneficiaries of the Qurbani 2023 project are made eligible based on a scoring system, which ranks families according to need. The scoring system is based on the following objective criteria:
  • Families who live on less than the minimum income for that particular country
  • Female-headed households
  • Families with disabled and/or elderly persons
  • Children under five years old
  • Pregnant women
  • Breastfeeding mothers
  • Families with little or no access to the market
A thorough needs assessment will be conducted to objectively identify the weighting and priority of each of the above criteria. These are then applied when selecting beneficiaries to ensure we reach the most needy without bias or subjectivity in selection. It is the policy of Islamic Relief to distribute only one Qurbani meat pack to each family regardless of family size.

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 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).

No, this is not necessary as long as you have made the intention that you are giving this Qurbani on behalf of a certain person.

Qurbani meat

Islamic Relief primarily distributes:

  • Fresh Qurbani – in most countries animals are purchased and slaughtered locally.
  • Chilled Qurbani – 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. This enables us to offer a much more cost-effective alternative, without compromising on quality.

The volume of Qurbani is representative by the allocations committed for each country.

For donors, the following information can help you calculate your donation:

  • 1 Sheep or Goat = 1 Qurbani
  • 1 Cow = 7 Qurbani (one Qurbani equals 1/7th of the share).

Islamic Relief has been performing Qurbani since 1986. As with our other projects, Islamic Relief’s work is constantly monitored and audited. Reports are also produced each year showing what activities have taken place in each country.

Payment

No, as Islamic Relief is conducting hundreds of thousands of Qurbanis around the world, therefore 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 Qurbani on behalf of a certain person is sufficient.

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 Maghreb salah. Islamic Relief has already 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, it will be carried out in time.

Cost

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 organisational support costs.

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

How Qurbani is performed?

Qurbanis are performed through Islamic Relief field offices who 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.

Animals chosen in a country are dependent upon:

  • The suitability of the meat to the local diet.
  • The cost of the animal.
  • The location and the availability of animals.
  • The quality of the meat.

Miscellaneous questions

Islamic Relief performs Qurbani as part of our overall seasonal programme. 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.

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

It is recommended for the one who wants to offer a sacrifice, once the new moon of Dhul Hijjah appears (i.e. on the 1st of Dhul Hijjah), not to remove anything from his hair, nails or skin, until he has offered the sacrifice.

It would be better if people did not visit, as on the day 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. Therefore, our teams will not have the capacity or time to host individuals. However, if you are at the locations where the Qurbani is being distributed then you are welcome to observe. To demonstrate our distributions to donors, we will share photographs of some of our distributions around the world on our website and social media channels.

Check out this playlist on YouTube to see how our teams on the ground distribute your Qurbani.

new director

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Nadeem Azhar

General Counsel

Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.

He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.

Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.

Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.

Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.

Adnan Hafiz

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Board of Directors
Javed Akhtar

Director of Finance

Javed Akhtar has more than a decade of experience at Islamic Relief, having worked in a similar role between 2003-2014. In that role he strove to implement wide-ranging financial and accounting processes which aided in the transparent nature in which Islamic Relief now operates.

Javed also has diverse experience across the private sector, having worked at American chemicals and pharmaceutical giant DuPont, shipping firm FedEX and technology consultancy company Accenture. In all his roles, he prioritises using the latest technologies to improve monitoring and reporting at every level. Javed’s commitment to embracing digital end-to-end technology, enhancing accountability to our stakeholders and promoting financial transparency is ensuring that we remain at the forefront of financial developments in the sector.

By training, Javed is a chartered accountant with a Master’s degree in NGO Management with Charity Accounting and Financial Management from Cass Business School.
Board of Directors
Affan Cheema  

Director of International Programmes

Affan Cheema is an experienced leader who has spent 25 years working in the international aid sector on poverty eradication in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He has worked in fast onset emergencies, protracted crisis and development environments whilst working for Islamic Relief Worldwide and Care International. He is also a trustee of South West International Development Network (SWIDN).

Through his career Affan has held numerous roles including institutional fundraising, programme and grant management, and programme quality assurance.  Affan’s leadership has helped Islamic Relief Worldwide secure the highly coveted Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), seen as the sector’s premier benchmark for operational excellence.

Affan completed his BA in Economics and Geography from University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) and his MSc in Development Administration and Planning from the University of Bristol. He is PRINCE2 qualified, is a keen sportsman and recently co-edited a book entitled -Islam and International Development: Insights for working with Muslim Communities-.
Board of Directors
Dr Hossam Said

Managing Director, Humanitarian Academy for Development (HAD)

For nearly three decades Dr Hossam has provided the strategic vision to manage, lead and develop a range of international humanitarian interventions around the world.

At the start of his career, Dr Hossam served on the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, before moving to Islamic Relief Worldwide to manage the core global business activities as International Programmes Director.

During this time the organisation increased its global reach, gaining both domestic and international repute and credibility. Dr Hossam has also served on the Islamic Relief Worldwide Board of Management and Executive Committee for the past 15 years; sharing responsibility for strategic organisational development and the change management process, whilst forging strong relationships with many other charities.

Dr Hossam gained an MBA from Aston Business School in 2004 and graduated as a Medical Doctor from Cairo University in 1981.
Board of Directors
Martin Cottingham  

Director of External Relations and Advocacy

Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.

Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.

Tufail Hussain

Director of Islamic Relief UK

Tufail Hussain has 17 years’ experience in the humanitarian and development sector, leading on marketing and fundraising campaigns for several organisations before joining Islamic Relief UK in 2016 as Deputy Director. Tufail was appointed Director of Islamic Relief UK in 2019 and in 2021 provided valuable leadership as interim CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Tufail is driven by a passion for empowering disadvantaged youth and mentors a number of young people. He also works to strengthen engagement between British Muslims and wider society. Under his leadership, Islamic Relief UK has significantly increased its income and developed successful partnerships with communities across the country. He has travelled around the world to raise awareness of major emergencies such as the Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan crises and the floods in Pakistan and Sudan.

A father to 5 daughters and a son, Tufail is also a sports enthusiast and passionate Liverpool FC supporter. Tufail has run the London Marathon twice, raising over £35,000 for humanitarian causes.

Before joining Islamic Relief he was CEO of Orphans in Need, where he oversaw a new strategy that increased income from £2 million to £9 million in 3 years and opened up new UK and international offices. Tufail is also a trustee of the Muslim Charities Forum and a Director of TIC International (Islamic Relief Worldwide’s clothes recycling and trading arm).
Waseem Ahmad

Chief Executive Officer

Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.

With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.