Qurbani is an Islamic ritual that takes place across the days of Eid al-Adha, in which animals are sacrificed in the name of Allah (SWT). Traditionally, Muslims were required to sacrifice the animal themselves and split the meat into three equal parts: one part for themselves and their families, one part for their friends and neighbours, and one part for those in need. Today, there are laws against anyone other than licenced slaughterhouses slaughtering animals, meaning it isn’t possible for Muslims in the UK to carry out the sacrifice themselves. For this reason, the idea of Qurbani donations was introduced, allowing Muslims who exceed the Nisab threshold to partake in the ritual, no matter where they’re based.

When donating your Qurbani to a charity such as Muslim Aid, we will carry out the sacrifice in an Islamic country and distribute the meat among those in need. As a result, Qurbani is much more than just a religious ritual; it’s an act of compassion, solidarity, and devotion.

Why You Need to Donate Qurbani in 2025

The ritual of Qurbani stems from the story of the Prophet Ibrahim (AS), in which Allah (SWT) instructed him to sacrifice his son, Ismail (AS). The Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and Ismail (AS) were both willing to make this sacrifice, but at the last minute, Allah (SWT) put a ram in Ismail’s (AS) place. As a reward for the pair’s devotion to Allah (SWT), Ismail (AS) was saved.

Therefore, we continue the ritual of Qurbani today to honour the Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) obedience to Allah (SWT). It also allows us to express gratitude for our blessings and empathy for the less fortunate, as the meat of the sacrificed animal is distributed among those in need.