Qurbani is an act of worship performed by many Muslims on the day of Eid al-Adha. The word Qurbani is derived from ‘Qurb’, which means closeness. Although all Islamic schools of jurisprudence highly recommend qurbani, the Hanafi school considers it obligatory. Therefore, all Muslims who possess wealth equal to or greater than the Nisab must perform Qurbani on Eid al-Adha, according to the Hanafi perspective.

Qurbani is performed on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, and can be performed till sunset on the 12th of Dhul Hijjah. It must be done after the Eid prayers. It is also important to conduct Qurbani within the prescribed days. In this blog, we will discuss qurbani rules for a family.

Who Must Give Qurbani?

Qurbani rules for a family are simple. As soon as a Muslim reaches the age of maturity (puberty), they become eligible to perform Qurbani. In simple terms, whoever is eligible to perform Qurbani should do so. Eligibility criteria depend on age and Zakat qualification. Beyond the eligibility criteria, Islam also outlines certain practices to follow in the days leading up to the sacrifice.

According to the following Hadith, one should avoid cutting nails or hair from the beginning of Dhul Hijjah till the time of sacrifice:

Umm Salama, the wife of Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ), reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) to have said: He who has a sacrificial animal with him whom (he intends) to offer as sacrifice, and he enters the month of Dhu’I-Hijja, he should not get his hair cut or nails trimmed until he has sacrificed the animal. (Sahih Muslim, 1977g)

Each eligible person can either sacrifice a smaller animal, such as a goat or a sheep, or contribute one-seventh of a larger animal, such as a cow, buffalo, or camel. Thus, seven people can contribute to the sacrifice of a larger animal. 

Rules for Qurbani for Husband and Wife

Qurbani rules for a family consisting of husband and wife don’t need elaborate explanations. According to the Hanafi jurisprudence, If both husband and wife of them qualify for the Nisab eligibility, they should both participate in Qurbani. If either of their qualify for it, one of them should commit to Qurbani. Hence, a husband cannot perform Qurbani on behalf of the wife, and the wife cannot do so on behalf of the husband. Whoever is qualified for Qurbani should commit to it. If both husband and wife qualify for it, both must do so. In fact, if more family members qualify for it, they must all perform Qurbani.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan, the Nisab value for this year is Rs. 503,529. However, that value is only applicable to people living in Pakistan. Others must calculate the current price of 612.36 grams of silver in their local markets to calculate their Nisab threshold.

Distribution of Qurbani Meat

Traditionally, Qurbani meat is distributed into three equal portions. One portion is kept reserved for the family, another for neighbors and relatives, while the third portion is for the poor and the needy.  You can follow the traditional manner of qurbani meat distribution, or you can also donate all three portions to the poor.

“Ali bin Abu Talib narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded him to distribute the entire sacrificial camel – its meat, skin and covers – among the poor.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, 3157)

Your Qurbani Can Make This Eid Special for Underserved Communities

The idea that one Qurbani per family is mandatory isn’t true to the spirit of Qurbani. Whoever is in a family qualified for it must commit to it. Therefore, Qurbani rules for a family encourage maximum participation in Qurbani.

By donating Qurbani online to Transparent Hands, you can make this Eid special for many underserved communities. 

Transparent Hands has a long history of serving underprivileged Pakistani patients. We have assisted thousands of deserving Pakistanis since our inception in 2014. We have a very effective maternal and child program that has saved many lives, while we also support a wide range of surgeries. We also frequently organize medical camps in the most low-income areas of Pakistan. Our camps provide free medical checkups, diagnostics, and medicines to the deserving locals.

For the past two years, we have executed very successful Qurbani campaigns. Our team distributed Qurbani meat among the most deserving segment of society, including families living in slums, elderly residents of nursing homes, the transgender community, madrassa students, individuals with disabilities, local laborers, orphans, and widows. We collected our Qurbani donations in accordance with Shariah rulings and strictly followed the prescribed Islamic method for selecting and slaughtering the Qurbani animals.

This year, we look forward to helping many more people than last year with your donations and support. Donate your Qurbani to Transparent Hands. Let’s make this Eid happier for the entire society!

Reviewed by

Mufti M Zubair Nadeem

Shariah Consultant