1 in 8 people worldwide suffer from chronic hunger
Hunger kills more people each year than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined
Poor nutrition causes nearly half (45%) of deaths in children under five – 3.1 million children each year
One Ummah Foundation believes that food insecurity is the number one priority to address before we can move towards breaking the cycle of poverty. This month, with respect to all religions and races, we are spotlighting the tradition of Qurbani - an annual program that provides nutritious rations to impoverished families during the holy month of the Hajj (pilgrimage).
What is Qurbani?
Qurbani, also known as Udhiya in Arabic, is a practice of sacrificing a livestock animal during Eid ul-Adha. Qurbani promotes charity and togetherness because it is customary to give one third to charity, one third to relatives and one third is for yourself. “It is neither their flesh nor their blood that reaches Allah, it is your piety that reaches Him.” (22:37) Source: https://www.hijabsandmore.ca/blogs/hijab-fashion-blog/qurbani
Here is a link to an informative video that explains the ritual of Qurbani in detail and how to perform it. Source: Digital Mimbar Published on Aug 27, 2017
Let's Put This Into Perspective
According to the United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA), in 2018, Americans had access to 222.4 pounds of meat per person. Compare this to countries such as Sri Lanka, Somalia, Bangladesh, Senegal - areas in India like Bihar and Hyderabad and that number drops to a dramatic 10 pounds or less per person per year. We are talking about close to two billion people! Through our One Million Meals program, the One Ummah foundation is working towards ending hunger for good. Qurbani is one of the many sources of funding this initiative.
When is Qurbani performed?
Eid al-Adha 2019 in United States will begin in the evening of Saturday, August 10 and ends in the evening of Sunday, August 11, 2019. This occurs during the same month of the holy pilgrimage for Hajj. It is this time of year during Eid Ul-Adha that impoverished families look forward to the sustenance of meat for their families from their brothers and sisters.
History of Qurbani
The first ever link to Qurbani can be traced back to Ibrahim. Ibrahim had a recurring dream where Allah was instructing him to sacrifice his son, Ismail. Ismail was his most beloved possession. As the dream kept repeating itself, Ibrahim realized this to be a command from Allah. In devotion to Allah, Ibrahim agreed to follow this dream and perform the sacrifice. As Ibrahim was about to perform the sacrifice, Allah intervened and sent a ram to be sacrificed in Ismail’s place. It is a great reminder about the sacrifice that Ibrahim was willing to make.
How to do Qurbani
Qurbani is to be done by all Muslims who are of sound mind and are financially able to afford it. If you do not provide it in your country of residence, then ensure that you donate your Qurbani to a trusted charity in advance of Eid. One Ummah Foundation has options though its partners in West Bengal, Bihar, Senegal, and Somalia. You can donate a cow, goat, or a share to satisfy your requirement here. Your generosity will be felt by many suffering people across the world and will give them hope for the future.
Sources:
One Ummah Foundation is a source for delivering help and hope to children and families across the globe. We seek to bridge the divide between race and religion through education and our focus on the commonalities that unite us as "one people". Our programs are blessed with trusted partners that deliver your generous donations to benefit the most needy families in the world.
One Ummah accepts all types of donations including zakat, sadaqah, qurbani and tithe to help break the cycle of poverty and give hope to thousands of needy families.
Sources:
https://www.wfp.org/stories/10-facts-about-hunger
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