Korban (Qurban) meat at Islamic Relief

Korban (Qurban) means sacrifice. It is an act of worship that takes place during the holy month of Dhul Hijjah, during the days of Tashriq (11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah). It is an act beloved to Allah (SWT), therefore it is important that one offers the best possible offering.

What meat does Islamic Relief use for korban?

Islamic Relief carries out qurbanis of sheep, goats and cows. In general, a sheep or goat is considered as 1 qurbani, while a cow is divided into 7 shares and each share is considered one korban.

In most countries, we provide fresh qurbani meat to vulnerable families, as animals are purchased and slaughtered locally.

However, in countries such as Jordan where fresh qurbani is significantly more expensive, animals are slaughtered in Europe and shipped ready for distribution from the third day of Eid onwards. Offering chilled qurbani meat in these countries enables us to offer a much more cost-effective alternative, without compromising on quality.

Can you eat the Korban meat you donate?

Here at Islamic Relief, all 3 portions of meat delivered through our quality assured qurbani programme are distributed to those in need, whether that is in the UK or across the globe. Therefore, it isn’t possible to eat the qurbani meat you donate.

We have a scoring system in place to select those most in need, and for many families, the qurbani meat you donate is the only meat they will eat in the whole year.

In 2022, we provided qurbanis to more than 33,000 families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Balochistan, and Sindh in Pakistan

In the UK, all qurbanis are carried out by partner organisations to ensure compliance with food, health and safety standards.

Across the globe, our teams on the ground are extremely busy with slaughtering the animals, dividing them, packing the meat, transporting it to villages and distributing the qurbani packages to the most vulnerable families.

Is it compulsory to give Korban meat?

According to the Hanafi madhab, qurbani is compulsory for every sane adult Muslim male/female who has wealth in excess of his/her needs. If you’re eligible to pay zakat, then you’re also obliged to give qurbani.

The conditions and rules of qurbani vary among other schools of thought (madhab), so if you’re unsure of whether you must give qurbani meat, please consult your local Imam.

It is not compulsory to give all of your qurbani meat to those in need, and traditionally qurbani meat is donated into 3 shares: One part for oneself and family, one part to extended family and friends, and one part to those in need.

Here at Islamic Relief, we donate all 3 of your shares to those in need, which helps earn great rewards and the pleasure of Allah (SWT). This also helps to bring joy to as many families in need as possible on Eid al-Adha, and allows them to celebrate the day free from worrying about how to feed their children.

The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.

Islamic Relief korban meat process

Islamic Relief is one of the largest international organisations carrying out qurbani. Our quality assured qurbani programme has been running for over 30 years. In that time, we’ve developed an efficient, cost-effective and reliable process that consists of:

Prioritising those most in need

We prioritise the most vulnerable families when distributing qurbani. Our rigorous animal selection criteria makes sure families receive the highest quality meat possible.

Quality is key

Korban requires good quality, healthy animals. We apply best practice criteria so the animals are:

of the type required by Shariah.
at least 1 year old.
free from any apparent defects that would make them unfit for human consumption.
humanely transported to the slaughterhouse and humanely slaughtered.

Best practice also means all meat is handled hygienically, from the carcass right through packing and distribution to families.

We handle animals with care

Islamic Relief also makes sure that animals are transported and slaughtered humanely in accordance with Islamic guidelines.

And, as we manage the whole transportation and logistics network, we make certain that everything complies with shariah and that all meat is handled, packed and distributed with strict hygiene standards in place.

Ensuring cost efficiency

We source a country’s own produce for qurbani wherever we can – so our prices reflect local prices.

This is usually the cheapest way to carry out your korban (Qurban) and it minimises the carbon footprint. Buying from the local community helps local traders and farmers, as well as the local economy.

Your money goes further with Islamic Relief because we don’t spend money on importing, unless we cannot avoid it.

Your qurbani helps bring joy to families in need, and provides them with food for several days. It’s a treat for those who rarely get to eat meat, and provides a good source of protein. It also allows them to celebrate Eid without worrying about where their next meal is coming from.

Can Korban meat be distributed to non-Muslims?

It is permissible to give qurbani meat to non-Muslims, especially if they are your relatives, neighbours, or vulnerable individuals in need of help.

How is Korban meat distributed?

Islamic Relief distributes qurbani meat either in fresh, chilled, or frozen form.

Fresh meat is the most common, while chilled meat (0–4°C) and frozen meat (-18°C) were also applied where immediate distribution is not possible.

Most of the fresh meat is distributed during Eid al-Adha, immediately after slaughter. This often happens in community-led Qurbani slaughter. Chilled and frozen meat distributions is carried out in an extended schedule depending on local logistics and context.