In the Heavens and on Earth – Making your Qurbani Count
There’s more to the Qurbani than simply paying for the meat of an animal to be distributed to the poor on your behalf. The sacrifice is a religious duty that has far reaching consequences. Allah (SWT) reminds us in the Qur’an, Surah al-Hajj, verse 37:
لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَـٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ
“It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches God but your piety.”
This Qurbani season, we want to help make your Qurbani truly count.
Give your Qurbani today
The word Qurbani refers to a ‘sacrifice’ and every year we remember the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) – one of the greatest human beings to walk the planet – and hope to bring to life some of the wisdoms and lessons of his life and that of his noble family. The Prophet Ibrahim (AS) has a remarkable, ever-present place in our faith; so much of our religion links back to his life, whether it is mentioning and sending prayers upon him in every single salah we make or retracing his steps and the steps of his noble wife and son, Hajra (AS) and Ismail (AS) during Hajj and Umrah. During this time of the year, we remember his uncompromising devotion to Allah (SWT). This teaches us to always have faith in the Wisdom of our Lord, in the good times and the hard times, and know that we will never be wronged by trusting and submitting to His Merciful Plan.
Your sacrifice is their safety – How many Qurbani will you give?
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) reminded us to always look to those who are less fortunate than us, that we may increase in our gratitude to Allah (SWT). In Surah Ibrahim, verse 7, Allah (SWT) says:
لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ
“If you are grateful, I will give you more.”
With the rising cost of living and the financial challenges that the pandemic has brought, many of us, perhaps for the first time, have had to make sacrifices in the way we live our lives. It’s during these testing times that we get a taste for what life is like for so many others around the world. This empathy should remind us of the countless blessings we have in our lives and stir in us the desire to help those in need, however we can.
If the average person is feeling the pressure of hard times, then know that the poorest and most vulnerable will feel this most acutely. For them, these times are a crisis upon crisis.
Every day, our sisters and brothers living in poverty are forced to make the most impossible of sacrifices. Could you imagine if a loved one fell ill, and you had to sacrifice the food your family was to eat to pay for life-saving medicine? What of the families that must tell their children that they can’t go to school because if they don’t work, they might all end up without a roof over their heads?
These are sacrifices no one should have to even think about, let alone make, but we can help change this reality. If each of us makes a small sacrifice in our lives, if we can have the courage to give up a little of what Allah (SWT) has given us, together we can make a big difference in the lives of those who need us most. This is what Penny Appeal is all about and this Qurbani season, we can make a difference.
Qurbani – An earthly gift that reaches the heaven
When we commemorate Prophet Ibrahim (AS)’s sacrifice, we reinforce our own commitment and faith in Allah (SWT), and we fulfil a religious obligation, putting our faith before our attachment to this world. Your Qurbani also has practical benefits: you become directly responsible for being able to provide fresh, delicious, and nutritious protein-filled meals to families living in poverty.
As we count down the days to Eid-ul-Adha, know that the gift of your Qurbani will bring joy to vulnerable families this Eid, helping them celebrate the joyous days to the fullest. This is the power of the Prophetic way; your generosity and giving provides a safety net and security to those in need. Your contribution is a reminder to them of the care and concern of the Ummah, that we will never forget them, not today, not during the blessed day of Eid, not ever.
One and a half million reasons to give your Qurbani today
Your actions today have the power to change lives tomorrow. Don’t hesitate to give your Qurbani as early as possible.
Last year, together we fed a staggering 1,423,047 people through our Qurbani appeal; this year we hope to reach over one and a half million. Each Qurbani provides up to 57 nutritious meals for those who have suffered through food insecurity and malnourishment. Although Qurbani is a religious obligation on every adult who can afford it, we are also encouraged to perform additional Qurbani on behalf of our children, our loved ones who have passed away, and even in honour of our beloved Prophet ﷺ - giving sincerely in the way of Allah (SWT) can never leave you with less.
We want to make Qurbani truly count, in the heavens and on Earth, and so we will be sharing plenty of insights and inspiration to keep you informed this Qurbani season. If you have questions or want to know more, our advisors are always here to help too – just call our freephone number, 03000 11 11 11.
MONDAY 13 JUN 2022
