Quality assured qurbani

Qurbani is an act of worship that is most beloved to Allah (SWT) during the days of Tashriq (11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah), so it is important to offer the best possible sacrifice. 

Our quality assured qurbani programme is a specialised worldwide programme which upholds Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability and Shariah compliance throughout the entire process to ensure individuals receive quality, halal (permissible) and tayyib (healthy, pure) qurbani meat.

This means that the qurbani meets the needs of the rightsholder, upholds the rules of qurbani and ensures Shariah compliance, regulatory standards and animal welfare standards.

Our country offices in the countries where we operate are one of our major strengths. Being present on the ground allows us to have close proximity to our the vulnerable people we serve. We have dedicated staff employed in these countries, which puts us in a unique position. As locals, we have a deep understanding of the needs of vulnerable people, enabling us to provide them with the best possible support. 

The qurbani meat is transported in refrigerated trucks with a maintained cold chain until it reaches our rightholders

Prior to slaughter, our livestock undergo rigorous inspections to ensure compliance with both veterinary and Shariah standards. These inspections guarantee that the animals meet the requirements for qurbani according to Shariah principles and that the resulting meat is of excellent quality and safe for consumption by humans. 

Our approach for the qurbani project is adaptable and tailored to the specific needs of each location. We prioritise collaboration with regulated slaughterhouses that uphold strict machinery and hygiene standards, ensuring the freshness and safety of the meat. In the absence of regulated slaughterhouses, we adopt a community-led approach where trained volunteers and butchers actively engage the entire community under the close supervision of Islamic Relief staff.  

To maximise the impact and serve a greater number of households, our preference is to select larger animals for qurbani, taking into consideration their availability in each country. This approach leads to a higher meat yield, allowing more households to receive qurbani meat packs and benefit from our distribution efforts. 

We prioritise adhering to the Core Humanitarian Standard and Shariah compliance throughout the entire qurbani process. They conduct thorough inspections of the livestock and oversee the slaughter process. Our focus is to ensure the use of high-quality livestock suitable for this religious act, with supervision from veterinary doctors, local imams, religious scholars and other religious authorities.  

We maintain the well-being of the livestock and strictly follow best practices and compliance guidelines. Furthermore, we store the meat in refrigerators or transport it in refrigerated vehicles, adhering to local hygiene and food safety regulations. This commitment guarantees that the qurbani process is conducted with care and respect, upholding religious and regulatory standards.

Our dedicated staff members complete qurbani checklist declarations to ensure adherence to all qurbani requirements. Waste disposal is carried out responsibly, following local regulations. In countries where all parts of the animal are consumed, such as offal and skin, waste is minimised. In other countries where only specific organs and meat are consumed, waste materials are appropriately disposed of either at the slaughterhouse or buried in designated community slaughter sites. 

To maintain efficiency and meet deadlines, we closely monitor the number of qurbanis and the capacity of each field office. We establish contractual agreements with suppliers to accommodate any unexpected increase in qurbani orders. With over 38 years of experience in conducting qurbani, Islamic Relief has cultivated strong relationships with local communities and suppliers, enabling us to fulfil qurbanis promptly and efficiently. 

The qurbani meat is transported in refrigerated trucks with a maintained cold chain until it reaches vulnerable people. 

Islamic Relief’s qurbani prices may be slightly higher than those of other organisations, but this is because we prioritise providing a high-quality service. We go the extra mile by purchasing healthy animals that yield more meat for vulnerable people.

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 was 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.