Dompet Dhuafa Revitalises Eid al-Adha Spirit Through Qurban Programme
Eid al-Adha is not merely a religious ritual, but a symbol of humanity and sacrifice for the greater good. As noted by scholar M. Qura0e2ish Shihab, the occasion teaches the willingness to set aside personal ego for the collective interest. This philosophy is rooted in the story of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail, where the replacement of a human sacrifice with a sheep symbolised the immense value of human life, regardless of ethnicity or nation.
This spirit has driven Dompet Dhuafa’s Qurban Animal Distribution Programme (THK) for over 30 years since 1994. For the organisation, qurban is more than an annual ritual; it is a commitment to bridging the gap between urban donors and hard-to-reach regions. Last year, the trust placed in the programme grew by 33.70 per cent, with a total of 36,709 sheep/goat equivalents distributed. Of this total, 28,445 animals were part of the THK Programme, while 8,264 were facilitated through the Qurban Network Partners.
Ahmad Juwaini, Chairman of Dompet Dhuafa, emphasised that the impact of qurban extends to the grassroots level. “This is the downstreaming of zakat. Qurban revitalises the economy of local livestock farmers in various regions. They receive a decent income and a tangible improvement in their standard of living,” he explained.
The warmth of Eid al-Adha is felt as far as eastern Indonesia, such as on Solor Island, East Nusa Tenggara. Ratna, 60, could not hide her gratitude upon receiving sacrificial meat after a year of only being able to long for the taste of meat. For her, enjoying meat is a rare luxury, as her daily diet consists of simple menus like fish or plain rice. “We often have to endure hunger or fast just to afford rice. I am so happy that, finally, there is sacrificial meat once a year,” she said.
Similar joy erupted in Bitorik Village, Maluku. After a 26-year wait, the euphoria of Eid al-Adha returned through the delivery of nine cattle and one goat. “We do not want to enjoy this alone. We are distributing this meat to surrounding villages so that everyone can share in this gratitude,” said Muhammad Yasin, a local resident.
Last year, Dompet Dhuafa’s qurban distribution reached 26 provinces, 250 regencies/cities, and even extended to countries such as Palestine, Somalia, and Myanmar, benefiting a total of 2,036,320 people. The programme simultaneously empowers local farmers, reaches remote areas, provides transparent services, and allows the public to perform qurban practically via smartphone.