As the qurban period begins, the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) is excited to announce the third annual Waqf Al-Khayrat Qurban. The MJC and the Waqf Al-Khayrat in recent years entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Waqf Al-Khayraat, in a bid to develop intercontinental relations between the Muslim communities of South Africa and Turkey.

Waqf al-Khayrat, a Turkish organization, has aligned itself with the teachings of Bediüzzaman, Said Nursi, a great scholar of the Islamic world, through which it redefines the role of Islam within the western world.

Deputy President of the MJC, Moulana Abdul Khaliq Allie notes that while the MJC is a member of the Union of the NGO’s of the Islamic World (UNIW), a driver of the union, Waqf al-khayrat has provided the MJC with unique opportunities.

“We are very grateful that this agreement has been signed between MJC and Waqf Al-Khayrat and the opportunities allow us to engage and development links,” Allie stated.

Allie says that the initiative provides the Turkish counterparts with a comprehensive understanding of the Muslim community of the Cape, and the greater South Africa.

“They go away from here with an understanding that there is an Islam that is alive and vibrant within the Muslim community, because we are grateful for our predecessors and elders who maintained these practices.”

Moulana Mubeen Alexander explains that Waqf Al-Khayrat, in its effort to affect positive change, has contributed greatly to Muslim communities while cementing bonds of brotherhood within the South African Muslim community.

“These members have sacrificed their time, families and huge sums of money to come to the tip of Africa and assisting in the sacrificial process,” Alexander added.

The role of Waqf Al-Khayrat in the qurban process

Allie says that a special role that the Waqf al-Khayrat will play during the qurban period is to monitor that the standard of qurban within the Cape remains compliant with the principles of the shariah.

Prior to the qurban period, Waqf al-Khayrat provide the MJC with a price range in which the animals can be chosen and checks the cows that are scheduled to be slaughtered.

Given the fact that a cow may be slaughtered for seven individuals, he notes that the group has a list of donors who have entrusted the organization to slaughter the animals on their behalf.

“When it is time to slaughter and the animal is calm, they ensure that the name of [the donor] is uttered,” he stated.

Allie says that the group ensures that the seven portions of each cow are properly distributed to predetermined individuals or families.

The significance of qurban

Allie states that while we enter the very significant days of Haj, which are made reference to in the sunnah, the Nabi specifically makes mention of the day of Eid al-Adha.

The shaykh says that there is much barakah in the Cape Town’s community continued practice of the sacred ritual.

He further notes that the Muslim community has to a large extent adhered to animal rights regulations as stipulated by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

However, stating that in making qurban, Muslims need to adhere to the Islamic norms of slaughtering and the overall treatment of the animal.

VOC