Allah says in the Quran:
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنْسَكًا لِّيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ
“And for all religions We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals.”
— Surah Al-Hajj: 34
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“He who has the financial capacity but does not offer Qurbani, let him not approach our Eid prayer ground. Furthermore, choose a healthy and fat animal for Qurbani, because it will serve as your mount to carry you across the Sirat (the bridge over Hell) on the Day of Judgment.”
Allah says in the Quran:
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ
“So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].”
— Surah Al-Kawthar: 2
The Arabic word “Qurbani” literally means ‘nearness to God.’ In other words, it is a righteous deed performed to attain the grace of Allah. This Qurbani is an essential (Wajib) act of worship.
Allah says in the Quran:
لَن يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَاؤُهَا وَلَكِن يَنَالُهُ التَّقْوَى مِنْكُمْ
“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you.”
— Surah Al-Hajj: 37
The companion Hazrat Zayd ibn Arqam (RA) narrates:
“The Sahaba (companions) asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah! What is the origin of this Qurbani?’ The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, ‘It is the tradition of your father, Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).’ They asked, ‘What reward do we get from it?’ The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, ‘There is a reward for every single hair of the sacrificial animal.'”
— Mishkat
Is Qurbani Mandatory (Wajib)?
Qurbani is mandatory (Wajib) upon anyone who possesses the threshold of wealth (Nisab) required for Zakat.
The Nisab for Zakat is reached if a person, after fulfilling their basic needs and paying off debts, possesses a surplus of 10.5 sovereigns of gold (approx. 87.5 grams), 612 grams of silver, or its equivalent cash value. Anyone meeting this criterion is strictly required to pay Zakat (2.50% or ₹2.50 for every ₹100), Sadaqatul Fitr, and perform Qurbani.
Islamic Rules Regarding Qurbani
- Intention for Deceased: A person for whom Qurbani is mandatory cannot buy a single goat and make the intention (Niyyah) solely on behalf of a deceased person. They must first fulfill their own obligation. If they have additional financial means, they may purchase a separate animal on behalf of the deceased.
- Borrowing Money: It is commendable for those with moderate financial means to offer Qurbani. However, one should not take a loan (borrow money) just to perform Qurbani.
- Permissible Animals: Goats/sheep, cattle (cows/bulls), and camels are the only permissible animals for Qurbani.
- Shared Sacrifices: Up to seven people can share a single cow, bull, or camel. However, if even one person in the partnership does not have the intention of Qurbani (e.g., they only want the meat), the Qurbani of all seven people becomes invalid.
- Dependents: The head of the family is responsible for giving Qurbani. If he has the financial capacity, he should also provide Qurbani every year for the dependent males and females under his care.
- Best Choice: Sacrificing a goat/sheep individually is considered the best option and carries immense reward.
- Distribution of Meat: The meat of the Qurbani animal should be divided into three equal parts:
- One part for relatives.
- One part for the poor and needy (Miskeen).
- One part for one’s self/household.
- Sunnah of Hair and Nails: It is highly recommended (Mustahabb) for the person offering Qurbani to refrain from cutting their hair and clipping their nails from the sighting of the Dhul-Hijjah moon until the Qurbani is performed.
- Age of Animals:
- Cattle (Cows/Bulls): Must have completed 2 years of age and entered the 3rd year.
- Goats/Sheep: Must have completed 1 full year. However, a healthy, fat 6-month-old sheep that looks like a one-year-old is also permissible.
- Defects in Animals:
- An animal is permissible if less than one-third of its ear or tail is missing. If more than one-third is missing, it is invalid.
- Animals that are blind, lame, severely sick/scabby, or have their ears or tails completely cut off are not allowed. An animal with completely broken horns is also invalid.
- The Act of Slaughtering: If a person knows how to slaughter, they should make the intention and slaughter the animal themselves. If they do not know how, they should at least stand near the animal during the slaughter.
- Direction: The animal must be laid down facing the Qiblah (direction of the Kaaba) during slaughter.
- Animal Skin: The skin of the Qurbani animal must be given away as charity. It cannot be given to the slaughterer as a form of wage or labor fee.
- Humane Slaughtering: After slaughtering, one must wait until the animal’s soul departs completely before skinning it. Skinning the animal while it is still alive or twitching is strictly forbidden.
- Consumption of Blood: The blood of the Qurbani animal is Haram (forbidden). Consuming blood is strictly prohibited in Islam, and giving it to others to consume is also Haram.
- Timing: Qurbani must only be performed after the Eid prayer. Doing it before the Eid prayer makes the sacrifice invalid.
- Aqeeqah Partnership: A person wishing to perform Aqeeqah (sacrifice for a newborn) can share a portion in a large animal (cow, bull, or camel) meant for Qurbani.
- Gender and Castration: Female goats can be offered for Qurbani. However, a healthy male goat is superior. Castrated goats are also highly preferred and valid.
- Animal Welfare: Forcing Qurbani animals to fight each other for entertainment or as a spectacle is forbidden and disliked.
Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)’s Sacrifice
Hazrat Anas (RA) narrated:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sacrificed two horned rams which were white with black markings. I saw him placing his foot on their flanks, mentioning Allah’s name and saying Takbeer (Bismillahi Allahu Akbar), and he slaughtered them with his own blessed hand.”
Dua to be Recited Before Slaughtering the Animal
Before slaughtering, recite the following verse:
إِنِّيوَجَّهْتُوَجْهِيَلِلَّذِيفَطَرَالسَّمَاوَاتِوَالْأَرْضَحَنِيفًاوَمَاأَنَامِنَالْمُشْرِكِينَ إِنَّصَلَاتِيوَنُسُكِيوَمَحْيَايَوَمَمَاتِيلِلَّهِرَبِّالْعَالَمِينَ * لَاشَرِيكَلَهُوَبِذَلِكَأُمِرْتُوَأَنَاأَوَّلُالْمُسْلِمِينَ
Innee wajjahtu wajhiya lilladhee fataras-samawaati wal-arda haneefaw-wamaa ana minal mushrikeen. Inna salaatee wanusukee wamahyaaya wamamaatee lillahi rabbil ‘aalameen. Laa shareeka lahu wabidhaalika umirtu wa ana awwalul muslimeen.
Meaning:
“Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah. Say, ‘Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.'”
After reciting this, the person slaughtering should make the intention: “O Allah, I am slaughtering this Qurbani for You,” and then say “Bismillahi Allahu Akbar” and cut the throat. It is best for the owner of the animal to slaughter it. If they cannot, they must stand nearby.
Dua to be Recited After Slaughtering
رَبِّتَقَبَّلْمِنِّيكَمَاتَقَبَّلْتَمِنْخَلِيلِكَإِبْرَاهِيمَوَحَبِيْبِكَمُحَمَّدٍصَلَّىاللَّهُعَلَيْهِوَسَلَّمْ
Rabbi taqabbal minnee kamaa taqabbalta min khaleelika Ibraheema wa habeebika Muhammadin Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam.
Meaning:
“O my Lord! Accept this from me just as You accepted the sacrifice from Your close friend Ibrahim (AS) and Your beloved Muhammad (ﷺ).”
Virtues of Qurbani
According to a Hadith, as soon as the first drop of blood from the sacrificial animal falls on the ground, the sins of the person offering the Qurbani are forgiven. On the Day of Resurrection, the sacrificed animal will be brought forth, its weight multiplied seventy times, and it will be placed on the scale of good deeds.
Hazrat Ali (RA) used to always sacrifice two rams: one for himself and another on behalf of the Prophet (ﷺ). He did this because the Prophet (ﷺ) had offered sacrifices on behalf of his entire Ummah (community).
Therefore, as members of his Ummah, offering a Qurbani in the name of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) out of love for him is a highly meritorious and deeply encouraged act.
