During the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims worldwide partake in Qurbani to reflect the Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) devotion to Allah (SWT). This is done by slaughtering an animal and its meat is then given to the needy. Participating in this act is recommended by most scholars for believers who are financially able.
There are many rules within Qurbani about which animals can be sacrificed that can lead to confusion. To help you answer, “How does Qurbani work?”, we have provided all of the relevant information you need to understand Qurbani and be able to fulfil this religious obligation correctly.
Qurbani (Udhiyah) is the ritual of animal sacrifice. This is performed every year by Muslims during Eid al-Adha to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) devotion to Allah (SWT). The Prophet Ibrahim (AS) was willing to sacrifice his son, Ismail, for the sake of God. His story has long-inspired Muslims for many years and his unwavering faith in Allah (SWT) encourages believers to make sacrifices and show devotion to God.
Giving Qurbani allows Muslims to follow the shining example of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and never forget his devotion to Allah (SWT) all while fulfilling the additional obligation of helping those in need.
So, how did Qurbani begin? Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) story began this ritual for Islam. He had a dream that Allah (SWT) instructed him to sacrifice his only son, Ismail. Ibrahim (AS) submitted to the will of Allah (SWT) even though this request was very difficult for him because he knew that this was a test of his faith. So, he took Ismail with him to travel to Mount Arafat where he would carry out the sacrifice.
Once Ibrahim (AS) had committed to this, he shared his dream and told Ismail of the sacrifice he must make. Ismail was equally as faithful to Allah (SWT) as Ibrahim (AS), and he even became a prophet himself in later years. Due to Ismail’s unwavering faith, he submitted himself to his father. At that moment when Ibrahim (AS) was about to perform the sacrifice, Allah (SWT) intervened by saying:
“O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the vision”
Allah (SWT) then sent Ibrahim (AS) a ram to be sacrificed instead of Ismail which started the ritual of Qurbani.
Qurbani is Wajib (obligatory) according to the Hanafi madhab (legal school) for eligible and sane Muslims who meet the Nisab threshold. Typically, if you need to pay Zakat, then you are also obliged to give Qurbani. However, some scholars consider it Sunnah Mu’akkadah (highly recommended). If you are unsure if this applies to you, it is best to talk to your local Imam to make sure that you fulfil your obligations correctly.
Qurbani is a highly rewarded and vital act of worship to Allah (SWT) for every believer as it gives joy to those in desperate need who can’t celebrate Eid because they don’t have substantial means to live.
‘And complete the Hajj and ‘umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs ‘umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home].’ [Qur’an, 2:196]
Qurbani is when Muslims sacrifice a livestock animal (sheep, goat, cow, or camel) after Eid prayer and requires them to follow Islamic guidelines for the sacrifice to be completed properly. It is important to sacrifice the animal after Eid prayer and not at any other time as outlined by the following Hadith:
‘Anas bin Malik: The Prophet said, “Whoever slaughtered the sacrifice before the prayer, he just slaughtered it for himself, and whoever slaughtered it after the prayer, he slaughtered it at the right time and followed the tradition of the Muslims.” [Bukhari, 68:454]
To be able to perform Qurbani in a righteous manner, a believer must follow Islamic guidelines that highlight the criteria of the slaughter.
It is also important to know further requirements of the animal that needs to be sacrificed so that you perform Qurbani righteously. Each animal must meet minimum requirements, like the age of the animal and their condition. Sheep and goats need to be at least one year old (this equals to one person’s Qurbani), cows and buffalo have to be at least two years old (this equals to seven people’s Qurbani), and camels should be at least five years old (this equals to seven people’s Qurbani).
They all must be healthy and free of disease and cannot be excessively thin or lean. They also must be able to walk themselves to the site of the slaughter and can’t be toothless or missing half their teeth. The animals must not be blind or one-eyed either and they shouldn’t have a lame leg that is weak so they can’t walk.
Qurbani can be paid by purchasing and sacrificing an animal yourself or donating through a charity that distributes meat to those in need.
You can donate your Qurbani to Muslim Aid online to provide essential sustenance and alleviate poverty in war-torn and impoverished regions. Due to war, oppression, poverty, disease and natural disasters, many people struggle to eat, and meat is a luxury they can only dream of. Your Qurbani can give the gift of achieving that dream, giving those in need a proper meal to help them to survive.
So, how much Qurbani do you give? As a general rule, one sheep or goat is for one person and a cow or camel can feed seven people. If choosing a sheep or goat, then you will need to purchase one to give one person’s Qurbani. If you choose a cow or camel, you can pay for one share in that animal so you can feed one person.
Once the sacrifice has been made, it is recommended to divide Qurbani meat into three equal parts. These parts can then be distributed, but how is Qurbani distributed? Well, the three parts should be divided and offered as follows: one for family, one for relatives, friends or neighbours, and one for the poor and needy. However, many Muslims prefer to have their Qurbani performed for the most needy and vulnerable so opt to donate all three parts to those in desperate need.
Qurbani is calculated on a Muslim’s wealth as they have to meet the nisab threshold to be required to perform the ritual. It is then based on the Islamic guidelines as these must be met before Qurbani can be performed. The type of animal chosen determines the number of shares and the price so the calculation can vary.
You need to factor in the price of the animal that is bought and sacrificed locally, the cost of taking care of the animal to meet the requirements, the cost of transporting the animal to where it will be sacrificed, and the cost of packing and distributing the Qurbani meat.
Donate your Qurbani to Muslim Aid to provide vital sustenance to those in desperate need. We cover many countries worldwide, including Palestine, Yemen, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia and Sudan so your Qurbani can help as many people as possible to survive. Your donation can allow the needy to celebrate Eid properly with a nutritious meal for those in desperate need of one, fleeing violence, and struggling to cope with poverty, trauma, injury and weakness.
We are a faith-based British international charity that provides help to people who are victims of natural disasters or conflict or suffering from poverty, hunger, disease, homelessness, injustice, deprivation or lack of skills and economic opportunities.
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