Eliza or Safika: Who Would You Choose?
Although we can sometimes think of Qurbani as an obligation to 'check off our list' before Eid al-Adha, for the people receiving Qurbani meat, it is an incredible gift which makes a world of difference. Amid their worries and difficulties, your sacrifice allows them to celebrate Eid al-Adha with the rest of the Prophet's Ummah, enjoying a rare meal with meat with their families on a day of blessings and joy.
Meet Eliza, a single mother in Malawi. Since her parents passed away in 2016, she's been struggling all alone to take care of her five siblings and, later, her own child. In 2020, one of her sisters passed away, leaving Eliza to take care of her six nieces and nephews. This family of orphans lives in a small house with only two rooms.
Eliza is by far the oldest person in this house, aged 37, with the next oldest being 18 years old. She is therefore the main breadwinner and she works as a daily labourer on other people's farms. It is tough work and she earns only 18p a day. It is certainly a struggle to support her family on these meagre wages, and they mostly eat porridge and vegetables.
Every year, when Eid al-Adha arrives, your Qurbani makes a world of difference to this hardworking mother, sister and aunt.
Qurbani is the only chance Eliza's family have to eat meat and they truly cherish these meals. At just £35, ordering a Qurbani to Malawi may not be a big deal for us, but it creates 'the happiest moments' for a family who have already lost so much.
Although they will all be missing their parents this Eid, your sacrifice is a comforting gift, reminding them that they have Muslim brothers and sisters who care about them.
Moreover, your Qurbani will also bring you closer to the Prophet (saw), as he said, 'I and the one who cares for an orphan will be together in Paradise like this' (and he (saw) held his two fingers together to illustrate). [Bukhari]
Over 7,000 km away, in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, widowed Safika is eagerly anticipating this year's Qurbani.
Safika has lived through unimaginable trauma. She used to live a peaceful and ordinary life with her husband and in-laws in Myanmar, but she lost them all during the persection in 2017. At the time, Safika was pregnant and had three young children - aged 10, 6 and 3 - and a baby. As they fled to Bangladesh, starving and exhausted, her baby passed away. The child she was carrying was born prematurely, just 7 months old, and died immediately.
They finally managed to seek shelter in Bangladesh, and they have been living there ever since.
After the devastation they have experienced, Safika has dedicated herself to caring for her three children. Despite being unable to have a job outside the camp, she has still managed to find work as a community cleaner in her area, earning £17 a month. And although she knows she can't celebrate Eid the same way they did in Myanmar, she does her best to make it a special day that her children will remember.
Safika told our team that, with her small income, she can't afford to give her children the meat and fish she would love to feed them. They rely on humanitarian aid a lot, and they mostly eat rice, bread, vegetables, pulses and eggs. Eid al-Adha is the only chance they have to eat meat and, just like Eliza's family, they treasure that experience more than we can imagine.
Thus, although ordering your Qurbani to the Rohingya refugee camps costs £95, its actual value is priceless, because of the amount of joy and blessings we will be bringing to widows and orphans who have left everything behind.
The Prophet (saw), in his exemplary compassion and mercy, used to sacrifice TWO animals on Eid al-Adha. One was his obligatory sacrifice, and the second was on behalf of Muslims who could not afford to perform Qurbani:
'The Prophet (saw) sacrificed for the one who could not sacrifice from his Ummah, one who bore witness to the Oneness of Allah and [his] Prophethood'. [Tabarani and Ahmad]
This beautiful practice was also followed by many of the Sahabah, as Anas bin Malik (ra) said, 'The Prophet (saw) used to sacrifice two rams, and I also sacrifice two rams'. [Bukhari]
Both Eliza's family and Safika's family deserve to enjoy the blessings of Qurbani on Eid al-Adha. They have looked forward to this moment all year and it will transform the days of Eid for them. And there are so many other families who feel the same way - after prolonged conflict, aid cuts and the impact of the pandemic, they are praying that they can enjoy a rare meal with meat during the most blessed day of the year.
By reviving the Sunnah of giving two Qurbanis like the Prophet (saw), you can double your impact and help us reach even more families with Qurbani meat. Don't miss out on this good deed! Order your obligatory and Prophetic Qurbanis today from just £35 to feed our brothers and sisters during the days of Eid.
Muslim Hands is an award-winning charity, established in 1993 to provide emergency relief and tackle the root causes of poverty. We carry out Qurbani in 26 locations and you can get in touch at 0115 911 7222 to learn more about our Qurbani service.
