Religious scholars urge sharing Qurbani meat with deserving families on Eid-ul-Azha

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th May, 2026) Religious scholars and officials have urged the public to share Qurbani meat with underprivileged families during Eid-ul-Azha, underscoring the true spirit of sacrifice, compassion, and social responsibility.

They emphasized that islam teaches Muslims to support the poor, widows, orphans, and daily wage earners, particularly during religious occasions, and said Eid-ul-Azha should serve as an opportunity to strengthen brotherhood and care for vulnerable segments of society.

Talking to APP, Deputy Director (Quran), Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA), Dr. Shahid ur Rehman, said that distributing sacrificial meat among deserving and poor families was a highly commendable act firmly established through the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

He said Islam does not regard sacrifice merely as the slaughtering of animals, but as a practical demonstration of piety, selflessness, brotherhood, and social compassion.

Quoting Surah Al-Hajj, Verse 28, he said the Holy Quran clearly highlighted the importance of sharing sacrificial meat with underprivileged members of society.

Referring to the sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he said the Prophet encouraged Muslims to eat from the sacrificial meat, preserve some of it, and distribute the remainder in charity.

Dr Shahid ur Rehman said Islamic teachings allowed three uses of sacrificial meat: personal consumption, sharing with relatives and friends, and distribution among the poor and needy. He added that in areas facing widespread poverty and hardship, allocating a larger portion to deserving families is considered even more virtuous.

He emphasized that Eid-ul-Azha should not be reduced to a mere ritual, but should instead serve as an opportunity to include deprived sections of society in the festivities and strengthen the spirit of Islamic brotherhood and mutual care.

Information Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Women Wing Islamabad, Sadia Saif, told APP that the true spirit of Eid-ul-Azha lied in developing piety (taqwa), sincerity, and the willingness to sacrifice one’s desires for the sake of Allah, rather than merely distributing meat.

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Quoting verses from the Holy Quran, she said Allah Almighty states in Surah Al-Hajj that neither the flesh nor the blood of sacrificed animals reaches Allah, but rather the piety of believers. She said this verse explained that the real objective of Qurbani was to nurture taqwa.

She also referred to Surah Al-An’am, Verse 162, in which believers are commanded to declare that their prayers, sacrifice, life, and death are for Allah, the Lord of all worlds. She said the verse revives the memories of the unparalleled sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and Prophet Ismail (AS), who submitted wholeheartedly to the command of Allah.

Sadia Saif criticized the growing trend of reserving the best meat for personal feasts and barbecue parties while distributing poor-quality portions to the underprivileged. Such practices, she said, contradict the true philosophy of Qurbani and undermine its spiritual purpose.

“We should thank Allah that many of us can afford meat throughout the year, while some families wait for Eid-ul-Azha just to eat meat,” she said, urging citizens to distribute quality meat wholeheartedly among deserving people so that Allah’s pleasure, blessings, and the true objective of sacrifice, taqwa, might be achieved.

Religious scholar Hafiza Ayesha, speaking to APP, said, Eid-ul-Azha was not merely about animal sacrifice but about sharing blessings with the poor, widows, orphans, and daily wage earners so they too could join in the joy of the festival.

She noted that Islamic teachings encourage dividing sacrificial meat into portions that promoted dignity, harmony, and collective happiness. Emphasizing respect in charity, she added that distribution should be carried out with kindness and humility, reflecting sacrifice as both worship and social responsibility.

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