“It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches him” – Surah Al-Hajj 22:37
Every year during Dhul Hijjah, Muslims around the world honour the devotion of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) through Qurbani — the sacrifice of an animal whose meat is shared with those most in need.
For over 46 years, Human Concern International has carried your Qurbani to the families who need it most: across conflict zones, refugee camps, and forgotten communities.
For a child in a war-torn country, a widow with nothing left, a family that hasn’t eaten meat in months — your Qurbani is not just a meal. It is the reminder that they are seen, remembered, and loved by a community across the world.
Because of donors like you, families in 23 countries sat down to an Eid meal in 2025; many for the first time that entire year. Here is what your trust made possible.
You didn’t just provide food. You interrupted cycles of hardship. Every share you gave created a ripple of dignity, nourishment, and belonging.
Children’s cognitive development and immunity are supported. Nursing mothers receive critical nutrition. Elderly individuals who cannot access markets eat with dignity.
For displaced families and orphaned children, Eid can be a painful reminder of loss. Your Qurbani transforms that day into one of belonging, a proper celebration that they are part of the Ummah.
Psychosocial well-being improves. Children experience joy rather than absence. Families feel remembered and valued, reducing social isolation and feelings of abandonment.
HCI sources animals locally wherever possible, from farmers and traders within the communities we serve. Your Qurbani supports livelihoods, not just bellies.
When a parent cannot feed their child, the mental load is crushing. Food insecurity is not just physical, it produces chronic stress, anxiety, and hopelessness that affects every dimension of life.
A guaranteed Eid meal reduces acute stress. Families can celebrate rather than worry. The psychological relief of a full Eid, even once, restores hope that better days are possible. Through your Qurbani, that parent has one less burden to carry. That’s not a small thing.
When conflict, poverty, or displacement cuts families off from practicing Eid al-Adha, the tradition is eroded for a generation. Your Qurbani helps preserve it for communities in crisis.
Families observe Eid with meat on the table, a ritual connection to faith, culture, and the global Muslim community. The tradition lives on, even in displacement camps and conflict zones.
In 2026, HCI is expanding our Qurbani program to serve more families in more crisis-affected regions than ever before. We go where others cannot. Here’s who you reached in 2025:
As livestock is currently unavailable inside Gaza, HCI carries out Qurbani outside the region in accordance with halal guidelines, ensuring it reaches families in Gaza as conditions permit. Your Qurbani will be ready, waiting to reach them.
All animals are selected to meet strict Islamic standards and treated with compassion from farm to sacrifice.
Every Qurbani performed through HCI meets the requirements of major Islamic schools of thought.
HCI uses a rigorous needs assessment to prioritize the most vulnerable without bias or favouritism.
As Canada’s oldest Muslim relief organization, HCI is accountable to donors, the CRA, and the communities we serve.
Every Eid, the Prophet ﷺ performed a second sacrifice, for those in his Ummah who could not afford one. You can revive that beautiful act of mercy.
“The Prophet ﷺ sacrificed for the one who could not sacrifice from his Ummah, one who bore witness to the Oneness of Allah and his Prophethood.” Reported by Masnad Ahmad
Qurbani (also known as Udhiyah) is the annual ritual sacrifice of a livestock animal performed by Muslims during the days of Eid al-Adha, the 10th, 11th, and 12th of Dhul Hijjah. It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail (AS) in obedience to Allah, who then replaced him with a ram. The word Qurbani means “nearness”, a reminder that through this act, Muslims draw closer to their Lord.
This depends on your school of thought: Hanafi madhab considers Qurbani wajib (obligatory) for every sane adult Muslim who possesses wealth equal to or above the Nisab. Maliki and Hanbali schools consider it sunnah mu’akkadah, a strongly confirmed recommended act. Shafi’i school considers it a sunnah. If in doubt, giving Qurbani is always the safer and more rewarding choice.
Under the Hanafi ruling: a sane, adult Muslim (post-puberty), who is not a traveller, and who possesses wealth above the Nisab threshold, essentially, if you are eligible to pay Zakat, you are required to give Qurbani. Each qualifying person in a household gives their own Qurbani.
Within some schools of thought, it is a recommended (mustahabb) act to refrain from cutting your hair and nails from the 1st of Dhul Hijjah until your Qurbani is performed. Since HCI performs all sacrifices between the 10th and 12th of Dhul Hijjah, it is safest to wait until after the 12th (or 13th in regions where this is accepted) before trimming.
The time for sacrifice ends at sunset on the 12th of Dhul Hijjah (or 13th in regions where this is accepted). To ensure your Qurbani is fulfilled in time, we recommend donating before Eid begins. HCI pre-purchases animals in advance based on projected donations, the earlier you give, the better we can plan and reach the most remote areas.
