Can You Give Qurbani on Behalf of the Deceased?

Each year on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, Muslims commemorate the steadfastness and faith of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) by sacrificing animals. The ritual is called Qurbani or Udhiyah. Qurbani is derived from the word ‘qurb’, which means closeness. By giving Qurbani, Muslims demonstrate their love and obedience to Allah (SWT), just as Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) did.

According to the Hanafi school of thought, performing Qurbani on Eid al-Adha is obligatory for all Muslims who possess wealth equal to or greater than the Nisab value. All Islamic scholars strongly encourage Muslims to perform animal sacrifice on Eid al-Adha as it is the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ). In this blog, we will discuss whether it is permissible to perform Qurbani on behalf of a deceased person.

Is Qurbani on Behalf of the Deceased Permissible?

According to many Islamic scholars, it is permissible to give a sacrifice on behalf of the deceased. Making a sacrifice on someone else’s behalf is a part of the prophetic tradition. The Prophet (ﷺ) sacrificed two animals: one on behalf of his family, and the other on behalf of the Ummah. We learn about this Sunnah from the following Hadith:

“’A’isha reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) commanded that a ram with black legs, black belly and black (circles) round the eyes should be brought to him, so that he should sacrifice it. He said to ‘A’isha: Give me the large knife, and then said: Sharpen it on a stone. She did that. He then took it (the knife) and then the ram; he placed it on the ground and then sacrificed it, saying: Bismillah, Allah-humma Taqabbal min Muhammadin wa Al-i-Muhammadin, wa min Ummati Muhammadin (In the name of Allah,” O Allah, accept [this sacrifice] on behalf of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and the Umma of Muhammad” ).” (Sahih Muslim, 1967)

There is another Hadith that tells us how Hazrat Ali (RA) sacrificed animals on behalf of the Prophet (ﷺ):

“I saw Ali sacrificing two rams; so I asked him: What is this? He replied, The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) enjoined upon me to sacrifice on his behalf, so that is what I am doing.”(Sunan Abi, Dawud 2790)

How to Make Niyyah for Qurbani on Behalf of the Deceased

To offer Qurbani on behalf of the deceased, it is important to make the Niyyah or the intention, i.e., “Oh Allah (SWT), this Qurbani is performed on behalf of (the name of the person). Accept it from them.”

The Niyyah can be said in your heart, but if you want to say it aloud, you can do so by reciting the following dua:

اللهم تقبّل هذه الأضحية عن [الاسم]

“Allahumma taqabbal hadha al-udhiyah ‘an [Name]”

“O Allah, accept this sacrifice on behalf of [Name]”

A Spiritual Gift for Your Loved Ones

Note that if the deceased specifically instructed that a sacrifice be made on their behalf, it is obligatory to follow their will. However, if such a will doesn’t exist, qurbani can still be conducted voluntarily on behalf of the deceased.

However, you should remember that giving Qurbani on behalf of the deceased doesn’t eliminate your own obligations. Rather, it is an additional sacrifice.

While distributing sacrificial meat on behalf of the deceased, you may follow the traditional principle of dividing the sacrificial meat into three halves for distribution. One for personal use, another for neighbors and relatives, and one for the deserving. In fact, you can also distribute all three portions of sacrificial meat among the poor, to assist the greatest number of deserving individuals and families.

Presenting Qurbani on behalf of the deceased is a great gift, as it allows spiritual rewards for the deceased and also cherishes their memory in the best possible manner. Furthermore, one should also combine sacrifice with a sincere prayer for the deceased’s forgiveness and elevation in Paradise.

So you can honor your elders who have passed on by making sacrifices on their behalf and send them a spiritual gift on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

Donate Your Qurbani to Transparent Hands

If you intend to donate your Qurbani online, make sure that you choose a Shariah-compliant organization like Transparent Hands. We are an online crowdfunding platform that has dedicatedly provided medical assistance to thousands of Pakistani patients since our inception in 2014. Our maternal and child program has benefitted thousands of deserving women and children, while we have also saved many lives by supporting a vast wide range of surgeries. We arrange medical camps all over Pakistan, where our team provides compassionate medical services to locals, who have limited access to medical care, free of cost. These camps are carefully planned to benefit low-income communities and offer free medical checkups, diagnostics, and medicines.

For the last two years, Transparent Hands has run very successful Qurbani campaigns. We strictly followed the Shariah laws, right from acquiring the sacrificial animals to sacrificing them in renowned slaughter-houses. We gifted the sacrificial meat packages among the most deserving people, including laborers, families living in slums, elderly residents of nursing homes, transgender community, madrassa students, people with disabilities, orphans and the widows. Most of these beneficiaries can only afford to eat meat once a year. With your donations, we plan to reach many more people with the hope of making their Eid memorable. Donate your Qurbani to us now!