What Is Qurbani?

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, buffalo, or camel - to reflect Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail for the sake of God. At least one third of the meat from the animal must go to poor or vulnerable people.

In Islam, the sacrifice of an animal is legal from the morning of the 10th to the sunset of the 13th of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th lunar month of the Islamic calendar.

Islamic preachers use the occasion to remind Muslims that Islam is a religion of sacrifice, and of their duty to serve mankind with their time, effort, and wealth. Those who receive Qurbani meat include widowed women, orphaned children, refugees, and the poor, elderly, or disabled - for many, meat is not otherwise part of their regular diet, and receiving it fosters real hope and a sense of shared celebration.

Qurbani is mandatory for every Muslim who has reached the age of puberty and who can afford it. It is preferable that the meat be divided into three equal parts: one for the home, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor and needy - and it can be distributed to the poor, rich, Muslim, or non-Muslim alike.