What is qurban? Meaning, rules and practice

Qurban — also called udhiya — is the ritual sacrifice of a permitted animal during Eid al-Adha, the Islamic festival of sacrifice. It commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, and the meat is shared with family, neighbours and those in need.

When does qurban take place?

Qurban is performed during Eid al-Adha, on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah and the following days. The exact Gregorian dates shift each year with the Islamic lunar calendar.

Which animals, and how many shares?

Permitted animals are sheep, goats, cattle and camels. A sheep or goat counts as one qurban (one share), while a cow or camel is shared by up to seven people — the seven shareholders (hissedaars) per animal.

How do NGOs perform qurban for donors?

Many donors give their qurban through an NGO that carries it out on their behalf, often in another country. The NGO registers donors, forms groups of seven for cattle, assigns field volunteers, performs the sacrifice and distributes the meat, then confirms it to each donor.

That last part — keeping every donor, group and confirmation organised across countries — is exactly what DonationPort is built for.