This is the time of the year when millions of Muslims are planning where to offer their Qurbani to provide meat for the poor and needy.

Just before Christmas, millions of Muslims will be performing Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. On the completion of the Hajj, it will be the festival of Eid-ul-Adha.

On that day millions of animals will be offered as Qurbani (sacrifice) through out the world. This is to show gratitude towards Allah (God) and to provide meat for the poor and needy.

It is the Sunnah (tradition) of the prophet Abraham (as) and is obligatory on adult Muslims who have sufficient means.

An individual can sacrifice a whole sheep or a goat. In the case of larger animals (cattle or camel), the cost is shared amongst 7 individuals. Ideally the meat should be shared between one's own family, friends and the poor.

When a qurbani is performed, the name of the person in whose name it being offered will be mentioned at the time of slaughter.

The benefits of doing qurbani in poorer areas of the world are:

• All the meat from the sacrifice is distributed to the poorest and most needy communities, including widows and orphans
• Animals are purchased locally so you also help local farmers and their community

Whatever charity you choose to carry out the qurbani on your behalf, make sure that you do so in good time. The whole process takes time, from donating money, the charity allocating it to the appropriate country, purchasing the animal locally and then sacrificing it. It also becomes harder and dearer to purchase animals the longer you leave it.

You can donate via one of the following main charities:

• Islamic Relief
• Muslim Hands
• Interpal

You can also offer your Qurbani via your local mosque. The Abu Bakr mosque on Southall Broadway will perform Qurbani on your behalf in Kashmir and Assam. A Qurbani share can be as little as £11 in Assam, India. In Kashmir it's £60 for a sheep and £36 for a cow share. If you wish to participate, contact the mosque asap, as there are only a few days left.

The Jamia Mosque on Townsend Road, Southall is also offering Qurbanis in the poor districts of Kashmir, near the Line of Control. You can contact the Imam, Qari Muhammad Amin Chisti, at the mosque or contact him on 020-8571-9542.

The cost of a sheep or goat qurbani is £65 and cost of a 1/7 share (cow/oxen) qurbani is £35.

You may also offer Qurbani via the Central Jamia Moque on Montague Way.