With Eid al-Adha around the corner, many Muslims across the UK will be getting ready to celebrate by donating their Qurbani for the year.
The act of Qurbani refers to the Islamic act of ritual animal sacrifice, however, there is much more to it than simply sacrificing an animal in the name of God (more commonly known by the Arabic word Allah). As with many acts in Islam, a key aspect of Qurbani is not the sacrifice, but the charity that comes from it.
Traditionally, once the animal has been slaughtered according to Islamic law, one third of the meat will be kept for the family, a third given to neighbours and a third given to the poor and vulnerable. This ensures that families that are unable to afford an animal can still have a feast for Eid.
Read more: Do you need to fast before Eid al-Adha? Fast of Arafah explained
Why do Muslims practice Qurbani?
The act of Qurbani can be traced back to the story of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) who was commanded by God to sacrifice his son Ishmael. However, moments before the prophet carried out the sacrifice, God interceded and replaced Ishmael with a lamb which was sacrificed instead.
By showing his willingness to carry out this extremely difficult act in the name of God, the story of the prophet Ibrahim stands as an example for all Muslims on how much they should be willing to obey and honour God. According to a Hadith (the recorded sayings and actions of the prophet Muhammad): "When the Messenger (PBUH) was asked what Qurbani is, he answered, “It is the Sunnah [practice] of your father Ibrahim. For every hair of the Qurbani, you receive a reward from Allah.” (Al-Tirmidhi)
How do Muslims donate Qurbani?
Nowadays, there are a lot of ways Muslims can donate Qurbani - especially in the UK where it is extremely difficult to sacrifice your own animal. Instead, Muslims can donate to a charity which provides Qurbani to less fortunate families on their behalf.
There are also halal butchers all across the country who will take Qurbani orders on someone's behalf.
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