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PART 1 Introduction
PART 2 Our Qurbani Program
PART 3 Impact of Your Qurbani
PART 4 Gaza & Sudan
PART 5 Zakat
PART 6 Eid Gifts
PART 7 Filled with Barakah
PART 8 Thank You
Thank you!
As we mark the end of the blessed 10 days, I am immensely grateful for the continuous care and support you have shown this Dhul Hijjah. Every donation you made served as a true testament to the blessings of this sacred month, a month that reminds us of our responsibility to one another.
With each donation, you demonstrated the power of a united Ummah and what it means to stand hand in hand with our world’s most vulnerable.
Because of your care, nearly 4 million people are feeling relief this Dhul Hijjah.
Thank you for continuing to extend your hand, putting your trust in us, and for your determination to make a difference in the lives of your brothers and sisters around the world.
May Allah accept your efforts during these blessed 10 days and grant you the ability to continue being a driving force for change.
Jazakum Allah Khair, and from the depths of our hearts, thank you for being the pillars that uphold our mission.
We are profoundly grateful, and none of this would be possible without you.
Your sister,
Aysha Syed Director of Fundraising, Islamic Relief Canada
Your Impact this Dhul Hijjah A Season of Sacrifice & Giving
Thank you for giving from what you love and making the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah especially blessed. In this season of sacrifice and extra reward, your love brought relief to nearly 4 million vulnerable people around the world.
205,333 Qurbani / Udhiya Shares Donated
3.3 Million People Received Meat on Eid
63,287 Eid Gifts Delivered to Vulnerable Children
ISLAMIC RELIEF’S Qurbani Udhiya Program
The Qurbani/Udhiya program started in 1986 by Islamic Relief with only 670 Qurbanis worldwide. Now, it's one of our largest annual programs, with 200,000 Qurbanis donated globally, benefiting over 3 million people.
We've developed an efficient and reliable process over 30 years, adhering to Islamic, ethical, and humanitarian standards in the countries we work, from start to finish of the process.
On Eid, sacrifices are done humanely and hygienically, and meat is immediately distributed to the needy without waste. Your generosity impacts families in Canada, worldwide, and especially in conflict zones like Gaza and Sudan.
Thank you for choosing to do your sacrifice through Islamic Relief!
Our Qurbani/Udhiya Distribution Process
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Selecting Rights-holders
Islamic Relief field teams identify vulnerable communities, including orphan sponsorship households, female-headed households, those below the national poverty line, conflict-affected households, and the poorest of the poor.
We collaborate with local communities and agencies to ensure eligible households receive Qurbani and have their needs addressed.
3
How Funds are Used Locally
Field offices source high-quality animals (sheep, goats, cows, or buffalo) from local farms and traders, ensuring value for money and providing high-quality meat to rights-holders.
Transportation and logistics are managed for the animals' welfare, and meat handling, packing, and distribution adhere to strict hygiene standards.
Veterinarians and health officials inspect animal health, care, and meat freshness before distribution.
Local Imams, scholars, and skilled butchers monitor and perform sacrifices in compliance with Shariah through community-led action.
Thank you for readily extending your hand to the world's most vulnerable this Dhul Hijjah, and making them a part of your community with love and compassion!
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Collecting Qurbani Donations
Throughout the blessed 10 days, Islamic Relief Canada collects your Qurbani donations to provide Qurbani/Udhiya and feed the poorest of the poor. We pre-purchase animals in order to fulfill all incoming requests.
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Your Donations in Action
Your Qurbani/Udhiya reaches those in need, providing an average of 4 kilograms of meat, feeding a family for a week. Your donations offer access to high quality meat, sometimes the only meat they enjoy all year.
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Your Impact
Our work does not end once a rights-holder receives your Qurbani. They remain in our system to continue receiving support through other projects and funds implemented in the area until they are self-sufficient.
Qurbani Udhiya Around the World
3,348,377 * Individuals Received Qurbani/ Udhiya
205,333 Qurbanis Were Distributed on Eid Al-Adha *These numbers are a reflection of Islamic Relief’s global efforts, including the 22,560 Qurbanis funded specifically by Islamic Relief Canada and then distributed to 385,270 rights-holders across 21 countries by our respective field offices.
Qurbani/Udhiya Here at Home
From Coast to Coast
From British Columbia to Halifax, you celebrated the love of community alongside our local partners to help feed nearly 15,000 low-income families, refugees, and food-insecure Canadians through your Qurbani this Dhul Hijjah. We greatly appreciate our community for coming together to give back during this season of sacrifice and giving!
14,788
Canadians
Received Your Qurbani
Abbotsford
Our Community Partners
QURBANI, a Time of Relief
Fedila Hussain from Ethiopia, 35 years old
Fedila and her husband live with their 3 young children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She shared, "My husband and I do not have a steady source of income to provide enough food for our family. He is mentally ill, and I am a disabled woman who relies on the support of our kind neighbours to share their meals with us.”
For thousands of families like Fedila’s, meat is a luxury they can only enjoy during the month of Dhul Hijjah.
“These days, it is so difficult and tough for us to buy meat. For a household like ours, a kilogram of meat costs more than 700 ETB [~ $17 CAD]. It is too expensive.”
When asked about the importance of Eid Al-Adha, she shared, “Eid AlAdha has a special place in our family's hearts. We want to buy new clothes and toys for our children but the actual reality is different; we cannot even provide them with common celebratory foods like Kitfo and sweets. Despite the fact that we have not bought newer clothes and shoes for our children, Alhamdulillah, we are still celebrating this Eid with great joy and happiness.”
Through Islamic Relief’s Qurbani meat distributions in Ethiopia, Fedila and her family of five received fresh meat that will last them 2 months.
Fedila gratefully shared, "As a family, we are so pleased to eat this fresh and tasty meat. Our kids are especially happy! I ask Allah SWT to bless you and your family for feeding us and accept your intentions and good deeds."
Rights-holders Testimonial
Hafeza Khatun from Bangladesh 63 years old
“Our situation was completely different in Myanmar. Back home, we used to sacrifice a cow by ourselves. Every family member was happy to get involved in the slaughtering as well as distributing the meat to the poor, neighbours, and relatives. Now in Bangladesh, we are refugees, and I am a widow. We don’t feel the same kind of joy for Eid as we used to.
My 5-year-old granddaughter keeps asking me to buy meat for her. It was very painful for me to say no, as we simply couldn’t afford it. Alhamdulillah, with the Qurbani we received from Islamic Relief, she is now over the moon! Eid Al-Adha is the only time we have been able to eat and enjoy beef over the past 4 years since we moved here. I cherish it deeply.”
Reaching Those Most In Need
Your support in action for
Gaza and Sudan
Because of you, the most vulnerable in our Ummah did not go unseen this Dhul Hijjah. With your support, we were not only the first on the ground to reach those affected by disasters, violence or conflict, but we also advocated fiercely for some of our most vulnerable communities. This is an overview of the key responses you helped fund and support this Dhul Hijjah, in addition to many of our ongoing projects.
PALESTINE
Emergency Response
In response to the ongoing escalations of violence in Gaza, we remained steadfast in our efforts to ensure that communities received the blessings of this sacred time. Islamic Relief prioritized providing a dignified Dhul Hijjah for the most vulnerable, including those who are displaced, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities within Khan Younis, the Middle Area, and Rafah.
Islamic Relief continued to work closely with four implementing partners, Beit Lahia Development Association, Gaza Culture and Development Group, Unlimited Friends Association for Social Development and Bayader for Environment and Development Association.
Between June 7 to June 18, 2024, you helped distribute:
Over 3 million ready-to-eat meals
Psychosocial support to 3,529 children
Food parcels to 8,368 households
333 mattresses, blankets, and plastic sheets
3,440 people had access to water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities
16,123 people received a lipid-based nutrient supplement
Clean drinking water was distributed over 1 million times in total (daily average of 80,000 people)
Qurbani in Gaza
This Dhul Hijjah, our Qurbani in Gaza prioritized sourcing highquality animals in Egypt and completing the sacrifice there — before freezing the meat and transporting it for distribution in Gaza.
Due to inadequate animal welfare facilities in Gaza, we could not guarantee that the sheep's health met the standards for sacrifice and was suitable for Qurbani. By completing Qurbani in Egypt, we ensured that rights-holders received the best quality meat possible and that donors had the best impact for their donation.
At the present moment*, the Qurbani slaughtering process has been completed, and the meat is now being packaged in Egypt. Our team is working diligently to transport the Qurbani meat to Gaza for distribution. Given that the situation on the ground is constantly changing, the delivery date is still being determined. We will provide regular updates as we receive more information. via all responses supported by
23,742+ Qurbani Meat
Packs
Expected to be Delivered in Gaza
* Given the nature of the emergency and our team’s efforts on the ground, which prioritize the immediate distribution of life-saving aid, this figure is a conservative measured estimate of the number of Palestinians your donations reached during the month of Dhul Hijjah.
* This information was last updated on July 3, 2024.
213,997 Rights-holders Are Being Reached
via all programs currently implemented by Islamic Relief Canada in Sudan
SUDAN
Emergency Response
In response to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, Islamic Relief is working diligently to provide relief across multiple sectors, reaching internally displaced people, host community members, and refugees with the following:
Multipurpose cash assistance
Culturally appropriate hygiene kits, water storage kits, and water tanks
Livelihood opportunities and vocational training
Medicine and fuel to 18 hospitals and 6 healthcare clinics, including fuel, saline, syringes, bandages, and paracetamol
New and rehabilitated sanitation facilities, water sources, and latrines
Psychosocial support and recreational items
Qurbani in Sudan
In Sudan, Qurbani was implemented in Blue Nile, Gedaref, and North Kordofan. Our team in Sudan has a long-standing presence in these regions and was able to easily distribute Qurbani across the country.
20,000+ Qurbani Meat Packs
Delivered in Sudan
Your Zakat in Trusted hands
Your Zakat is an Amanah, and we take that trust very seriously. At Islamic Relief Canada, we follow a scholar-verified Zakat Policy to ensure your Zakat reaches as many poor and needy people as possible to transform their lives.
This ensures that Islamic principles are adhered to every step of the way from project design and community fundraising discussions to project implementation. Our projects take a community-based approach, sourcing essential items from local vendors, creating programs that best serve their needs, and supporting rights-holders to take ownership from start to finish.
We strive to ensure that your Zakat empowers the individuals and families who receive it, and ultimately contributes to bringing them out of the difficult circumstances they are in.
To read more about our scholar-verified Zakat policy, visit us at islamicrelief.ca/zakat-policy
Our Zakat Distribution Process
Rights-holders
Islamic Relief identifies those well below Nisab, working with the poorest of the poor and the most vulnerable. This includes orphan households, single femaleheaded households, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
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How Funds are Used Locally
Once Zakat donations are collected, Islamic Relief Canada wires funds to be disbursed to the field offices for immediate distribution and implementation on the ground.
Needs Assessment
Our caseworkers, staff and volunteers in our field offices use a standardized system to collect information, record notes and categorize to determine the support that each individual and family needs.
Your Donations in Action
Your Zakat reaches the hands of those who need it most, providing rights-holders with the tools to support themselves and pass it on to the next generation.
Collecting Zakat
Throughout the year, Islamic Relief Canada collects your Zakat donations to continuously fund projects that assist the poorest of the poor.
Your Impact
Our work does not end once a rights-holder receives your Zakat donations. They remain in our system to continue receiving support through projects and funds implemented in the area until they are self-sufficient.
Your Zakat in Action
Your Zakat donations this Dhul Hijjah were allocated to continue funding our many ongoing Zakat-eligible projects, providing for the needs of 1,682,869 people worldwide.
Thank you for readily extending your hand to the world's most vulnerable and making them a part of your community with love and compassion!
Impact of Zakat Donations for 2024
1,682,869+ People Being Reached
66 Zakat Projects Supported
Eid Gift Distribution
Sharing the Joy of Eid
with Children in Need
Your kindness gifted smiles to orphans and vulnerable children on Eid day through new clothes, shoes, school bags, educational materials, toys, and sweets. These gifts full of joy were distributed across 18 countries, including Lebanon, Palestine, Somalia, and Yemen!
Thank you for helping spread the joy of Eid Al-Adha globally to 63,287 children and letting them know that someone is thinking of them.
63,287 * Children
Felt the Joy of Eid!
Eid Toy Drive Bringing Smiles to Vulnerable Canadians
This Dhul Hijjah, YOU brought smiles to the faces of 2,469 Muslim children through our Canada-wide Eid Al-Adha toy drive!
Working alongside 18 partner organizations, including Nisa Foundation, Sakeenah Canada, and London Muslim Mosque, our teams across 16 cities nationwide delivered toys straight into the arms of mini-changemakers.
17 Cities Nationwide
Surrey |
Guelph
Brossard
2,469 Children
Our Community Partners
PART 7 | FILLED WITH BARAKAH
Gift of Umrah Spiritual healing for orphan families
This year, you are helping to fund an Umrah trip in 2024 for the orphan families we serve from Pakistan and Turkiye! Your donations are directly giving poor, orphan families the funds to afford and purchase an Umrah kit, visa, transportation, and other costs related to performing Umrah.
By easing the financial burden and expense of Umrah, you are connecting the poor and marginalized of our Ummah to the sacred and beloved House of Allah. Thank you for sharing the joy of spiritual healing.
80 Individuals from Orphan Families
Estimated to Travel for Umrah
Worship Kits for Incarcerated Muslims
It can be especially challenging for Muslims who are incarcerated in prisons across Canada to practice their faith and observe important and religious days with dignity and respect. As people of faith, it is our collective religious obligation to care for our incarcerated brothers and sisters and ensure they are neither forgotten nor abandoned.
We believe in the power of community and the impact of small acts of kindness. Partnered with 9 Muslim chaplains and institutions, you helped us distribute over 700 worship kits . These kits included a kufi cap or hijab, cushioned prayer mat, tasbeeh, and a copy of The Clear Quran.
Your generosity helped share the blessings of Dhul Hijjah and bring comfort and spiritual upliftment to someone in need!
730 Incarcerated Muslims
Felt the Love of Community
Walk for Water
This Dhul Hijjah, we were inspired by one of the miracles of this blessed month—the discovery of Zam Zam water. In honour of Lady Hajar's walk between Safa and Marwa, we brought our 5km Walk for Water challenge to 7 cities nationwide. Walk for Water aimed to raise awareness about global water scarcity and fund sustainable sources of clean water.
Global water scarcity continues to challenge our world, but we must continue showing up in any way we can and do our part. While we may not be physically performing Hajj and running between the hills of Safa and Marwa, we approached this challenge with the same faith as Lady Hagar, in firm belief that Allah's relief is near.
96 Challengers 7 Cities Nationwide
Guelph, London, Oakville, Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Québec City & Edmonton
Jazakum Allahu Khairan for your continued support and kindness for the world’s most vulnerable.
You gave from what you loved, and nearly 4 million people felt your love this Dhul Hijjah.
May Allah accept all our efforts and sacrifices in this blessed month and help us continue working together to build a better future for all.
We could not have done it without you, thank you.
3501 Mainway
Burlington, ON L7M 1A9 www.islamicrelief.ca 1-855-377-4673 (HOPE)
Registered Charity No. 821896875RR0001