Rules of Qurbani According to Islam

Qurbani is one of the most widely practiced acts of worship in Islam, performed each year on the occasion of Eid al-Adha by millions of Muslims across the world. Despite its widespread observance, many believers are uncertain about the specific rules that govern it. Some are unsure of the correct dates, others do not know which animals qualify, and many are unaware of the sunnah practices that accompany the sacrifice.

Getting the rules right is important. An invalid Qurbani does not fulfill the obligation, no matter how much is spent on the animal. This blog covers the essential rules of Qurbani according to Islam, with a focus on the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, which is followed by the majority of Muslims in Pakistan and across South Asia.

The Obligation of Qurbani and Who It Applies To

According to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, Qurbani is an obligation that every adult and qualified Muslim must perform. The qualification depends on their possession of wealth. Any Muslim who possesses Zakat equal to or more than the Nisab value is eligible for Qurbani. The Nisab threshold is equal to the current market value of 612.36 grams of silver. This is the same threshold used to determine Zakat eligibility. The Quran establishes the command:

“So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].” (Surat Al-Kawthar, 108:2)

The Prophet (ﷺ) reinforced this obligation in clear terms:

“Whoever can afford it, but does not offer a sacrifice, let him not come near our prayer place.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, 3123) 

Each eligible individual must give their own separate Qurbani. One sacrifice does not cover multiple qualifying adults in the same household.

The Correct Days and Timing

Qurbani should be done on the day of Eid al-Adha (10th Dhul Hijjah) after the Eid prayers. You are allowed to conduct Qurbani till sunset on the 12th of Dhul Hijjah.

Performing the sacrifice before the Eid prayer on the 10th is not valid as Qurbani, even if the intention is sincere. This is a common error, particularly when Eid prayers are held late. The sacrifice can begin as soon as the Eid prayer has been performed in the local area.

Rules for Eligible Animals

The animals allowed for Qurbani are sheep, goats, cows, buffaloes, and camels. Each of these has a minimum age requirement:

Sheep and goats must be at least one year old. A sheep that has reached six months and is large enough to resemble a one-year-old sheep is also considered valid by some scholars, though the preference is for one year. Cows and buffaloes must be at least two years old. Camels must be at least five years old.

The Qurbani of smaller animals like sheep and goats counts as one Qurbani representative of an individual. However, for larger animals like cows and camels, seven shares can be pooled, representing seven Qurbanis for different individuals. These conditions are defined by the Prophet (ﷺ) in the following Hadith:

“I asked al-Bara’ ibn Azib: What should be avoided in sacrificial animals? He said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood among us, and my fingers are smaller than his fingers, and my fingertips are smaller than his fingertips. He said (pointing with his fingers): Four (types of animals) should be avoided in sacrifice: A One-eyed animal which has obviously lost the sight of one eye, a sick animal which is obviously sick, a lame animal which obviously limps and an animal with a broken leg with no marrow. I also detest an animal which has defective teeth. He said: Leave what you detest, but do not make it illegal for anyone. Abu Dawud said: (By a lean animal mean) and animal which has no marrow.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, 2802)

An animal that is extremely thin, has missing teeth that affect its grazing, or is visibly unwell should also be avoided. The spirit of Qurbani is to offer one’s best, not one’s least.

The Sunnah Practices Before the Sacrifice

One of the overlooked Sunnahs that relate to Qurbani is not cutting hair and nails from the start of Dhul Hijjah till the time sacrifice is performed. This sunnah is only relevant for those performing the Qurbani:

“Umm Salamah, 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 Dhul-Hijjah, he should not get his hair cut or nails trimmed until he has sacrificed the animal.” [(Sahih Muslim, 1977g)

This practice is often overlooked, yet it carries a spiritual significance that mirrors, in a small way, the state of a pilgrim performing Hajj.

How to Distribute the Sacrificial Meat

Traditionally, the Qurbani meat is distributed into three portions. One is kept for self-consumption and for family, the other portion is distributed among neighbors and extended family members, while one portion is solely kept reserved for the poor and underprivileged. This way of distribution, however, is not obligatory. You can give all Qurbani portions to the poor. In fact, the practise is proven as a Sunnah.

“‘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)

The Quranic instruction on this point is also direct: “Then eat of them and feed the poor and the beggar.” (Surat Al-Haj, 22:28)

Selling the meat of Qurbani, or paying the butcher with a portion of the meat as wages, is not permitted. The butcher’s fee must be paid separately in cash or another form of compensation.

The Intention and the Reward

The intention (niyyah) for Qurbani must be sincere and directed purely toward pleasing Allah (SWT). The Quran is unambiguous about what actually reaches Allah from this act:

“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you.” (Surat Al-Haj, 22:37)

The reward for a correctly performed Qurbani is described in a Hadith narrated by Aisha (R.A):

“Their meat will not reach Allah , nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good.”(Sunan Ibn Majah, 3126)

Qurbani performed with the correct intention, the right animal, at the right time, and followed by sincere distribution to the needy is among the most beloved acts of worship on the day of Eid al-Adha.

Donate Your Qurbani Through Transparent Hands This Eid al-Adha

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FAQs

Is it permitted to perform Qurbani before the Eid prayers?

No. The Qurbani sacrifice must take place after the Eid prayer has been performed in the local area. Sacrificing before the prayer renders the act invalid as Qurbani.

What if I accidentally buy an animal with a defect?

If you discover a defect after purchasing the animal but before performing the sacrifice, you should replace it with a healthy animal. If the defect occurs after you have already taken possession of the animal and you cannot afford a replacement, scholars have allowed the sacrifice to proceed in some cases.

Is it permissible to donate money instead of personally performing the sacrifice?

Yes. Appointing a trustworthy organization or individual as your representative (wakil) to perform Qurbani on your behalf is fully permitted in Islam and is a common practice globally.

Can Qurbani be performed on behalf of a deceased relative?

Yes. Giving an additional Qurbani on behalf of a deceased parent, spouse, or other relative is permitted as an act of Sadaqah on their behalf. This must be in addition to the giver’s own obligatory Qurbani.

Can the hide of the Qurbani animal be sold?

No. The hide of the Qurbani animal should be donated to the poor, used personally, or given to a charity. Selling it and keeping the proceeds for oneself is not permitted.