For many, the only hot meal they will have all year
As Eid al-Adha approaches, Al Mustafa Welfare Trust has opened its 2026 Qurbani campaign — an act of worship that, for over three million people in conflict zones and extreme poverty, becomes something closer to survival. The ritual sacrifice of livestock, rooted in the story of Ibrahim's submission to divine will, now travels through a network of 21 countries, arriving in Gaza, Yemen, and Sudan as the only fresh protein many families will taste all year. In bridging religious obligation and humanitarian need, the campaign asks whether the line between devotion and solidarity was ever truly separate.
- For millions of families in active conflict zones, Qurbani meat is not a celebration — it is the single substantial protein source they will receive in an entire year.
- Al Mustafa Welfare Trust is pushing to surpass last year's reach of 3.1 million recipients, with Gaza, Yemen, and Sudan named as the most urgent frontlines of need.
- Donations starting at £25 are structured to remove financial barriers for British Muslims, with fully transparent pricing that covers the animal, slaughter, cold storage, and distribution.
- The revival of the 'Prophetic Qurbani' — a second sacrifice given on behalf of those who cannot afford one — is being actively encouraged, particularly for Palestinian families.
- The campaign closes at the Zohar prayer on the 13th of Dhul Hijjah, with Eid al-Adha expected to begin the evening of 26 May, leaving a narrow but urgent window for donations.
As Eid al-Adha draws near, Al Mustafa Welfare Trust — a UK-based Muslim charity with four decades of humanitarian work — has launched its 2026 Qurbani campaign, aiming to reach more than 3.2 million vulnerable people across 21 countries. Donations begin at £25, designed to make the religious obligation accessible to British Muslims of all means.
Qurbani commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's submission to divine will, and in Islamic tradition, the ritual sacrifice of livestock during Eid al-Adha is both an act of worship and an act of charity. For UK Muslims, where home slaughter is illegal, donating through a registered charity is the only lawful means of fulfilling the obligation. But for those on the receiving end — families in Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, Syria, and beyond — the meat often represents the only fresh protein they will eat in an entire year.
Founded in 1983 and registered as a UK charity in 2007, Al Mustafa delivered meat to 3.1 million people during Eid 2025. This year's campaign targets a higher figure, with pricing that is fully transparent: a cow share in India at £25, sheep or goat sacrifices from £45 in East Africa, and a full cow in Gaza at £2,275 — framed explicitly as direct support for Palestinian families. Every price includes the animal, halal slaughter, butchering, transport, cold storage, and distribution, with animals sourced from local farmers to support regional economies.
Chairman Abdul Razzaq Sajid described each donation as restoring both nourishment and dignity — for many recipients, the only hot meal of the year. The charity operates under a 100% Zakat policy, ensuring no administrative deductions from donor contributions.
This year, the charity is reviving the 'Prophetic Qurbani,' drawing on the tradition that Prophet Muhammad performed two sacrifices each Eid — one for himself, one for those in his community who could not afford to. Donors are encouraged to give a second sacrifice, multiplying both spiritual reward and humanitarian reach, with particular emphasis on Gaza.
Donations are accepted online until the Zohar prayer on the 13th of Dhul Hijjah, with Eid al-Adha expected to begin the evening of 26 May. For the families who will receive meat this season, the distinction between ritual and survival is not one they have the luxury of drawing.
As Eid al-Adha approaches in late May, Al Mustafa Welfare Trust, a UK-based Muslim charity with four decades of humanitarian work, has opened its annual Qurbani campaign with an ambitious target: reaching more than 3.2 million vulnerable people across 21 countries. The campaign accepts donations starting at £25, a price point designed to make the religious obligation accessible to British Muslims regardless of means.
Qurbani—the ritual sacrifice of livestock performed during Eid al-Adha—commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's submission to divine will. In Islamic tradition, when Ibrahim was commanded to sacrifice his son Ismail, Allah intervened and replaced the sacrifice with a ram. Today, Muslims worldwide perform this act of worship and charity in his memory. For those living in the UK, where home slaughter is illegal, donating through a registered charity is the only lawful way to fulfill the obligation. But for the millions who receive the meat, the ritual carries a different weight entirely. For many families in conflict zones and extreme poverty, the fresh meat distributed through Qurbani represents the only substantial protein they will eat in an entire year.
Al Mustafa Welfare Trust, founded in 1983 and registered as a UK charity in 2007, has built one of the largest Qurbani programmes among British Muslim organizations. Last year, during Eid al-Adha 2025, the charity delivered meat to 3.1 million people across the same 21-country network. This year's campaign aims to exceed that figure, with particular emphasis on communities enduring the most severe humanitarian crises: Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia, and others spanning Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
The pricing structure reflects the charity's commitment to transparency and accessibility. A cow share in India costs £25; sheep or goat sacrifices range from £45 in East African countries to £55 for a cow share in Pakistan. Full cow options include £385 in Pakistan and £2,275 in Gaza, the latter explicitly framed as direct support for Palestinian families. All prices include the animal, halal slaughter, butchering, transportation, cold storage, and distribution—no hidden fees. Animals are sourced directly from local farmers, a practice that keeps costs fair while supporting regional economies.
Abdul Razzaq Sajid, the charity's chairman, framed the campaign in terms of both spiritual obligation and human dignity. Each donation, he said, means another family receives fresh meat and dignity—for many, the only hot meal they will have all year. The charity operates under a 100% Zakat policy, meaning every penny of Zakat donations goes directly to beneficiaries with no administrative deductions, a commitment to transparency that extends across all its programmes.
This year, Al Mustafa Welfare Trust is reviving what it calls the Prophetic Qurbani, drawing on the tradition that Prophet Muhammad performed two sacrifices each Eid: one for himself and one on behalf of those in his community who could not afford to do so. By giving a second sacrifice, donors can multiply both their spiritual reward and their humanitarian impact. The charity is particularly encouraging this practice for Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is described as among the most devastating of our time.
Donations can be completed online in minutes, with donors choosing their animal type and country of sacrifice, or selecting 'Where Most Needed' to allow the charity's teams to direct resources to the greatest area of need. Donations are accepted until the Zohar prayer on the 13th of Dhul Hijjah. Eid al-Adha 2026 is expected to begin on the evening of May 26 in the UK, pending the Islamic lunar calendar and moon sighting.
The campaign represents both a religious observance and a statement of global solidarity. For the millions of families who will receive meat this Eid, the distinction between ritual and survival is not one they have the luxury of making.
Notable Quotes
Every Qurbani donation means another family receives fresh meat and dignity, for many the only hot meal they will have all year— Abdul Razzaq Sajid, Chairman of Al Mustafa Welfare Trust
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does a UK charity need to run a campaign for something that's a personal religious obligation?
Because obligation and capacity don't always align. A Muslim in London earning a good wage can afford to give Qurbani. A widow in Gaza cannot. The campaign bridges that gap—it lets people fulfill their duty while feeding people who otherwise wouldn't eat.
So it's not just about the meat itself?
No. The meat matters enormously—it's real protein in places where malnutrition is constant. But it's also about dignity. When you receive Qurbani meat, you're not receiving charity in the degrading sense. You're receiving something that comes from someone's act of worship. There's a difference.
Why the emphasis on Gaza this year specifically?
The humanitarian situation there is catastrophic. The charity is trying to say: if you're going to give Qurbani anyway, consider giving twice—once for yourself, once for Gaza. It's not guilt-tripping. It's an invitation to extend what you're already doing.
The pricing seems remarkably low. How do they keep costs that far down?
They source animals directly from local farmers, which cuts out middlemen. They operate at scale—3.2 million people means enormous volume, which brings unit costs down. And they don't take administrative cuts from Zakat donations. It's lean, intentional work.
What happens to someone who receives this meat?
For many, it changes their nutrition for weeks. A family that might eat rice and lentils gets fresh meat. Children get protein they're not getting otherwise. For some, it's the difference between malnutrition and adequacy. For others, it's simply a moment of dignity—someone thought of them during a holy day.
Is there any risk in a campaign this large?
The main risk is logistics. Moving meat across 21 countries, keeping it cold, distributing it fairly to the most vulnerable—that's complex. But the charity has been doing this for forty years. They have the infrastructure. The real question is whether they can scale up without losing the precision of who actually receives it.