Alhamdulillah, Euro Quality Lambs (EQL) have had the opportunity to offer and perform Qurbani again in 2023. We performed Qurbani for our trade & retail customers and charity partners in adherence with halal-stakeholder agreed and endorsed Qurbani protocol (see point 5).
This year’s Qurbani season showed some promising factors; more charitable partners joining our charity scheme, added recipients to our charitable distribution network, enhanced interest from retail customers to name a few.
Additionally, an important point to note is that despite the cost of living crisis and pressing burden of inflation on households, this year’s charity donation of Qurbani meat was much higher than last year which is admirably heart-warming.
Our Qurbani operations do not complete after 3 days of Eid-al-Adha. We carry on for a further ten days of cutting and distribution of lamb and mutton donations for charity to complete our operations. This requires maturation of Qurbani carcasses which results in a dual benefit of increased flavour and enhanced tenderness. We are passionate about cutting and packing the meat the same way we would offer it as a gift to a guest, hence the extra time devoted for a worthy cause!
Here’s a roundup of how we distributed your kind Qurbani donations in 2023.
Animal Co-Product Proceeds
Alhumdulillah we collected £1,154 of animal co-product proceeds from those that entrusted us with this Amanah. We are in continued partnership with Islamic Relief in ensuring that the money generated is allocated to the poor and needy as defined by the first two categories of Zakah recipients. This was donated to Islamic Relief on 11 July 2023.
The co-product value of the Qurbani animal must be donated to the charity. Historically this included skins but unbelievably it now COSTS abattoirs money to dispose of skins. Parts of the animal that continue to be sold (what we call co-products) include casing (from the small intestine, cleaned to make sausages) and tripe (from the stomach). Heads and feet have negligible value as they need further processing (dehairing and singing) before they can be used for human consumption.
We aim to spread awareness about co-product donations through our Qurbani FAQs (Q21) so that more butchers and abattoirs are asked about how these amounts are communicated, collected and distributed so that ultimately more people receive financial support from the blessings of each Qurbani performed. Our estimation is that, across the UK, approximately £150k+ of co-product donations is UNACCOUNTED FOR! That is a lot of money that could have been used to support those in need. The Halal Food Information Centre (HFIC) launched a consumer awareness campaign for Qurbani 2023 that also encompassed this topic among others. Please spread awareness about this important topic!
Gift Aid
Your gift-aid made a huge difference and helped pay for distribution costs and couriering meat to those who could not get to our site. It will also be used to develop Qurbani standards for UK abattoirs & butchers, as well as charities offering international Qurbani. If you are a UK tax-payer we always recommend you tick the gift-aid box. It will make no difference to you (and can even reduce your tax if you are a higher-rate tax payer), however it will make all the difference of whether meat can be sent out to someone or not!
Meat Donations
Alhumduillah 462 KG of charity meat was donated this year compared to 408 KG last year. We were also asked to distribute 1,438 KG of meat from other charities including HHUGS and Penny Appeal. We were thus able, thankfully, to fulfil all charity meat requests received this year so far.
The meat generated was cut, packed and distributed to the following causes and places:
Local Refugees
Through our masjid, Craven Arms Islamic Centre (CAIC), and connections with the South Shropshire Interfaith Forum, we have identified a number of Syrian and Afghan refugee families who have been settled recently in surrounding areas. Our Imam Sohayb Peerbhai and brother Ibrar delivered 382 KG of meat for the families in:
| Newtown | 126 KG for 19 families including Afghan refugees |
| Shrewsbury | 106 KG for approx. 10 Syrian refugee families |
| Telford | 100 KG for several families |
| Shropshire supports refugees | 40 KG |
| Donated for an event being organised for refugees of Wolverhampton | 10 KG |
Distribution table – local refugeesLocal Food Banks
128 KG of Mutton joints were cut and donated to food banks in Shrewsbury and Ludlow
| Shrewsbury Food Hub | 98 KG |
| Ludlow Hands Together | 30 KG |
Donations to Food BanksRefugees & Asylum Seekers in Scotland, Manchester and Cardiff
Our networks have advised us of individuals and families in Scotland, Manchester and Cardiff in need of support – some of whom used to live locally but have since moved away. We distributed 29 KG of Qurbani meat to 2 Syrian families and 2 Syrian brothers in Scotland and 20 KG of meat for asylum-seeking sisters in Cardiff.
Secret Angels, Wolverhampton
Following a successful distribution last year, this year we allocated 88 KG of meat to Secret Angels in Wolverhampton. They support food banks and individuals locally and distributed Qurbani meat to:
- UKIM Madina Masjid iCare Food Hub
- Good Shepherd Services
- Friends of Di’s Kitchen
- Sudanese & Ghanayan families
- Local Madrassa
Kokni Muslim Association, Masjid Al Falah, Birmingham
We donated 200 KG of meat to Kokni Muslim Association (Masjid Al Falah) who distribute free meals to people every Saturday and Sunday through their food bank.
London
We distributed 600 KG of Qurbani meat through our London-based charity partners.
Charity meat distribution in London
How do we manage charity meat requests?
The question may naturally arise as to how we manage requests for Qurbani meat? Since the donated meat is an Amaanah, it is of utmost importance to distribute it following a procedure that warrants transparency and integrity whilst ensuring due diligence and dignity for recipients. Upon receiving an enquiry we ask organisations to submit a charity meat request form using this link: https://eql.mobi/q/gh6q9. This form facilitates us in having more information about potential recipients to assess their application and to allocate the right quantity for households or community centres as the case may be. We hope to further improve and refine this form going forward. All suggestions are welcome!
How can you help?
Alhumdulillah the charity meat donated this year was significantly more than the last year. This has resulted in us being able to spread the baraka of Qurbani meat wider. We hope this trend continues in future years. There are two ways you could help in making a difference to peoples lives insha’Allah.
Firstly consider performing at least one Qurbani from your family in the UK fully for charity, or at least selecting the primal option and donating a third of your Qurbani meat to charity (the sunnah way). Encourage others to do the same so there is more meat generated for charitable distribution.
Secondly forward this link to organisations that you think would benefit from receiving Qurbani meat so we can reach out further and bring some joy to those in need https://eql.mobi/q/gh6q9.
Qurbani 2024
Qurbani is a great act of ibadah that carries immense reward if performed in the prescribed manner with true belief and intention. There is nothing more beloved to Allah swt during the three days of Tashreek than Qurbani. May Allah swt accept our Qurbanis, ibadah and prayers. Ameen.
EQL thanks all its customers, donors, colleagues, drivers and partners, including Islamic Relief and Human Appeal, for making the Qurbani 2023 charitable distribution successful. We shall continue to pursue ihsan (excellence) in how we conduct Qurbani and to provide you with the best experience, satisfaction and value. We look forward to welcoming you again next year insha’Allah 🙂