A COMMUNITY STATEMENT

 

The South African Muslim community was recently saddened by reports of a tragic incident during Qurbani in which a young girl lost her life. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this devastating loss and make du‘ā that Allah Ta‘ālā grants them patience, strength, and solace during this difficult time.

 

While circumstances of the incident remain the subject of an investigation by relevant authorities, the tragedy serves as an important call for reflection among all involved in Qurbani operations. Islam places immense emphasis not only on the performance of acts of worship, but also on the manner in which they are carried out.

 

This principle of ihsān applies to every aspect of Qurbani. It includes the humane handling of animals, arranging adequate facilities, adopting suitable restraint measures, engaging experienced personnel, instituting public safety measures, and ensuring that attendees on site are kept at a safe distance from potentially dangerous situations.

 

Large livestock animals are powerful and unpredictable by nature. Even the most experienced handlers understand that cows can react unexpectedly when stressed or sensing danger. For this reason, Qurbani should never be approached casually or without adequate planning and supervision.

 

As a community, we must continuously strive to uphold excellence through the highest standards of safety, care, and animal welfare, while observing this important act of worship. Every preventable incident not only causes harm to individuals and families but also impacts the perceptions about Qurbani within the broader society, and could have potentially far-reaching consequences.

 

There are many who do their utmost to ensure that Qurbani is performed in the best possible way. However, the visuals from some sites of the operations indicate that there is still a lot to be desired. It is imperative to reflect on such operations and make concerted efforts to rectify shortcomings that in certain circumstances are very serious in their nature and implications.

 

The lesson from the tragic incident and some of the experiences of attendees at sites around the country is that there is a need to perform Qurbani in a manner that reflects responsibility, compassion and ihsān, as values of Islam. By doing so, we honour both the sanctity of the act and the safety of each and every member of our communities in which the sacrifice is offered.

Released by:

The Executive Committee
Jamiatul Ulama South Africa

 

16 Dhu al Hijjah 1447 / 03 June 2026