Background on the Tradition of Qurbani (also known as Udhiyah)
Firstly, some Islamic schools of thought consider Qurbani (also called Udhiyah) a Prophetic tradition known as Sunnah. The Hanafi school considers it obligatory.
Qurbani is the practice of sacrificing livestock to commemorate and replicate Prophet Abraham’s intentions. Prophet Abraham made the intention to follow God’s command and sacrifice his son Ismail to become closer to God.
How Do You Give Qurbani?
You need to know how much you’re expected to give. Each person giving Qurbani is only responsible for one share. The price of that share depends on the type of livestock and the region where it’s bought. One goat or sheep requires just one Qurbani share. A cow, on the other hand, requires seven shares.
That does not mean an individual needs to pay seven shares to donate a cow. It means seven people can split the cost of a cow for Qurbani (Udhiyah).
In short: one goat can equal one Qurbani share, and one-seventh of a cow can also equal one Qurbani share.
When Do You Give Qurbani Online?
It helps to give as early as possible so the livestock can be cared for and prepared for sacrifice on Eid al-Adha. Zakat Foundation of America communicates months in advance with shepherds and other livestock owners to make sure they raise their livestock in a halal way to prepare for Eid al-Adha. Zakat Foundation of America makes agreements to buy livestock from these farmers so the livestock can be slaughtered in their localities and help their local economies. This ensures livestock — in each of the regions in more than 40 countries where Zakat Foundation of America does Qurbani — is raised well, and that beneficiaries are receiving fresh meat.
Qurbani begins after the Eid al-Adha prayer and ends when the sun sets on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. So there are four total days of sacrifice: the day of Eid al-Adha and three days after it.
You’ve read through the basics, and maybe even in further detail, and now you want to give. This is the easy part. Find a reputable organization like Zakat Foundation of America and go to its website, in this case, zakat.org. From there, you’ll find a donate page where you can select where you want your Qurbani share to be distributed. Indicate how many shares you are donating and click through to the next page to complete your donation.
Where Does My Online Qurbani Go?
You can pick any of the more than 40 countries where Zakat Foundation of America facilitates Qurbani distributions each year. Each region where Zakat Foundation of America does distributions has people who desperately need the nutritional value that comes from eating fresh meat.
Is There Anything Else I Can Do?
Qurbani is not the only way to commemorate or even celebrate in the days of Eid al-Adha. Zakat Foundation of America, through generous donors like you, gives Eid gifts to orphans and vulnerable children. These gifts include new clothes, new toys, school supplies and even money for the children to spend or save. Come back during Ramadan time to give orphans and vulnerable children gifts for Eid al-Fitr.