Every year on Eid al-Adha something happens that the rest of the world does not fully understand.
Millions of Muslims — from Pakistan to Indonesia to Nigeria to Canada — all on the same day, give up something of value. An animal. Real money. A conscious sacrifice. And they do it not because someone forced them. But because Ibrahim ﷺ did it first. And because Allah asked us to remember.
That is Qurbani. And if you have never thought deeply about why it matters — this is worth reading.
At Yaqeen Welfare Foundation we handle Qurbani donations every year and distribute fresh meat to families who have not tasted it in months. What we see on those days stays with us. So let us talk about what Qurbani donation actually is and why it is not something any Muslim with the means should skip.
What Is Qurbani
Qurbani means sacrifice. It comes from the Arabic word qurb — meaning closeness. To give Qurbani is to draw closer to Allah through an act of giving up something that costs you.
Every year during the days of Eid al-Adha — the 10th, 11th and 12th of Dhul Hijjah — Muslims who meet the threshold of wealth slaughter a specific animal. A goat or sheep counts for one person. A cow or camel can be shared among seven.
The meat is then divided into three parts. One third for yourself and your family. One third for friends and relatives. One third for the poor.
That last third is the part that changes lives.
Where It Comes From, The Story of Ibrahim ﷺ
Ibrahim ﷺ loved his son Ismail more than anything in this world. And then Allah asked him to give that up.
Not a small test. The hardest thing imaginable. And Ibrahim ﷺ did not argue. He did not delay. He told his son. His son said — do what you are commanded. And Ibrahim ﷺ raised the blade.
Allah stopped him. A ram was sent from heaven in Ismail’s place. And Allah told him — you passed. You gave Us what We asked for.
Every Qurbani since that day is a echo of that moment. A reminder that what we own is not really ours. That when Allah asks — the answer of a believer is yes.
That is the soul of Qurbani. Not just the meat. Not just the ritual. The willingness to give.
Is Qurbani Obligatory
People who study this have slightly different ideas about it. Most of them, and that includes the Hanafi school of thought (which is what most Muslims in Pakistan do), say that Qurbani is required, absolutely must be done, by every Muslim adult with enough money or possessions (reaching the amount called Nisab) during the Eid days.on the days of Eid.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever has the means to offer a sacrifice but does not do so — let him not come near our place of prayer.” (Ibn Majah)
That is not a gentle suggestion. That is a serious warning. If you have the means — this is not optional.
What Happens When You Give Qurbani Donation
Not everyone can travel to their home country to perform Qurbani themselves. Not everyone has access to an animal. And not every poor family can afford to buy meat — especially in Pakistan where Eid al-Adha might be the only time of year they eat meat at all.
That is where Qurbani donation comes in.
With Qurbani, you hand over the money for the sacrifice to an organization you trust. They then buy the animal, make sure it’s slaughtered in the proper Islamic way, and get the meat to the families who are struggling to get by.
At Yaqeen Welfare Foundation we do Qurbani donations every year — reaching some of the most underserved communities in Pakistan. Families in flood-affected areas. Daily wage workers who cannot afford even a basic Eid meal. Elderly people living alone with nothing.
When that meat arrives at their door on Eid morning — the look on their faces is something no words do justice to.
Why It Is More Than Just Meat
Yes the meat feeds people. That matters enormously. But Qurbani donations is not just a food distribution program.
It is a statement. That you remember where your blessings come from. That you are willing to give from what you love. That the poor are not an afterthought on your Eid — they are part of it.
Allah says in the Quran:
“It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah — but it is your piety that reaches Him.” (Surah Al-Hajj 22:37)
The animal is a means. What Allah is actually looking at is your heart when you give it. Are you giving because you have to get it over with? Or are you giving because you genuinely want to honour what Ibrahim ﷺ did and share your blessing with someone who has nothing?
That intention is everything.
Who Does Qurbani Apply To
Qurbani is obligatory on every sane adult Muslim who possesses wealth equal to or above the Nisab amount — the same threshold used for Zakat — on any of the three days of Eid al-Adha. It does not matter if that wealth is in cash, gold, savings or assets above your basic needs.
If you are travelling — some scholars say it is not obligatory but still highly recommended. If you genuinely do not have the means — it is not required. Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear.
Final Thought
On Eid morning while most of us are in new clothes and cooking big meals — there are families in Pakistan sitting in empty homes. No feast. No animal. No smell of meat cooking. Just another day that feels heavier than it should because everyone around them is celebrating something they cannot afford to join.
Qurbani changes that.
At Yaqeen Welfare Foundation — alongside our work at Yaqeen Welfare Foundation’s Yaqeen Indus Health Clinic, our education programmes and housing support — Qurbani distribution is one of the most direct ways we connect your giving to someone’s actual Eid.
You give the donation. We handle everything else. And on that morning — a family somewhere in Pakistan wakes up to something they did not expect.
Do not let Eid pass without giving yours.
Ibrahim ﷺ gave his most beloved thing when Allah asked. We are only being asked for a fraction of that. Give it. Give it well. Give it on time.
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May Allah accept every Qurbani given with a sincere heart and multiply its reward beyond what we can measure. Ameen.
“The Prophet ﷺ told us every part of the Qurbani animal will be brought forward on the Day of Resurrection. This is not just a ritual — it is an act that is witnessed and recorded. Give it with full sincerity.”
Source: Dompet Dhuafa
FAQs About Qurbani Donation
Q1. Can I give Qurbani on behalf of someone who’s gone?
Yes. It is allowed and widely practised. You can give Qurbani on behalf of a parent, spouse or anyone who has passed away. The reward reaches them and you receive a reward for the act of giving on their behalf.
Q2. Is it better to perform Qurbani yourself or donate through an organisation?
Both are valid. If you have access to perform it yourself — that is beautiful. If you are giving through a trusted organisation that distributes in areas of genuine need — the reward is complete and the impact is often greater because the meat reaches people who would otherwise have nothing on Eid.
Q3. What happens if I don’t do Qurbani in a certain year and then want to do it later?
Qurbani has to happen on particular dates,10, 11, 12 of Dhul Hijjah. If you didn’t do Qurbani during those days. The majority of Islamic scholars believe you should give the amount of money you would have spent on the sacrifice to charity. However, you aren’t allowed to do the actual Qurbani at a later time.
Q4. Does one Qurbani cover my entire family?
The Prophet ﷺ performed one Qurbani on behalf of himself and his entire household. So one sacrifice can be intended for the whole family. However if individuals in the family have their own means — it is better for each one to give separately.
