Alhamdulillah, we have left behind another Eid al-Adha. But what an Eid it was! In 16 different countries and 32 regions, we had thousands of qurbanis, and with your support, we brought blessings to the tables and hope to the hearts of 1.2 million of our brothers and sisters.
Once again, our volunteers showed great dedication. As in every year, they left behind their own Eid celebrations and spread out across the world. Some performed their Eid prayers in the cold mountains of Afghanistan, others under the scorching sun of Africa.
In Gaza, we had 4 small livestock to be sacrificed for our oppressed families. In that land where every explosion tightens hearts, we still reached our brothers and sisters. Perhaps the most meaningful Eid gift for them was this — knowing they are not forgotten.
In Somalia alone, we touched nearly 120,000 hearts. But what truly matters is that every piece of sacrificed meat brought a smile to a family and a sparkle to a child’s eyes…
In three cities of Tanzania, four regions of Kenya, as well as in Uganda, Ethiopia, Pakistan… The same joy, the same prayers were shared everywhere.
We upheld our 16-year tradition again this year. We recorded every sacrifice on video and mentioned the names of our donors one by one. As soon as Eid ended, we sent the video links via SMS.
Alongside the meat, we also distributed Eid clothes, toys, and sweets to thousands of children. Our happiest moments were when we saw their smiles. In the children’s festivals we organized in Uganda and Kenya, we played with the kids, held sack races, played football — and of course, the ultimate winner was “brotherhood!”
We reached 1.2 million people, but the greatest gift was the peace in each of your hearts:
“This Eid, I brought blessings to the table of a brother or sister.”
That warmth you feel while saying those words. The prayers rising to the heavens from a little child in Gaza, an elderly woman in Tanzania, a young mother in Kenya — all for you.
May our Lord never let this beautiful solidarity fade. Next year, inshaAllah, we will meet even more brothers and sisters in even more countries.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank everyone who stood with us this Eid and entrusted us with their sacrifices.
“We are merely a means.”