During Eid al-Adha, there is a very important act of worship that’s performed by able Muslims all around the world. This is known as Qurbani and is when an animal is sacrificed to Allah (SWT) to show trust, love and loyalty to Him. The sacrifice commemorates the story of the Prophet Ibrahim (AS), who was willing to sacrifice his only son for Allah (SWT), and gives believers the opportunity to reflect this same commitment to their faith and earn immense reward. It brings the ummah together in worship and celebration, strengthening the connection to Islam and allowing everyone, no matter their situation, to participate in the celebrations of Eid al-Adha.
Qurbani is so much more than an act of worship, which makes it hugely important for Muslims to carry out correctly. It is an act of charity that feeds the poor and hungry, helping them to survive and feel joy during Eid. Because of the importance of the sacrifice, there are many regulations surrounding the act of worship to help Muslims carry it out in the right way. With these regulations, there are many popular questions that arise, particularly around who must do Qurbani and the eligibility for this act. It’s vital to understand this to fulfil the act of worship properly and confidently. To help you understand the Qurbani threshold and eligibility, we’ve created this guide so that you can help those most in need and earn reward for your devotion to Allah (SWT).
Qurbani is a sacred act of worship that requires eligible Muslims to carry out a sacrifice of an animal during the days of Eid al-Adha. The purpose of this is to remember the great sacrifice that the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) was willing to make. He showed obedience and trust in his faith by following the command from Allah (SWT) to sacrifice his only son, Ismail (AS). Due to his commitment to his faith, Ismail’s life was spared and a ram was sacrificed in his place, which started the tradition of sacrificing an animal in Islam.
Now, Muslims around the world who have the means to do Qurbani reflect the same devotion and obedience to Allah (SWT) by sacrificing an animal, like a sheep, goat, cow, buffalo or camel. This provides believers with rewards due to pleasing Allah (SWT) and grows their connection to their faith. Alongside the spiritual importance of Qurbani, the sacrifice is also an act of giving, which is a core value of Islam. Muslims must help the less fortunate whenever they can to share their blessings and uplift the struggling ummah. The meat from the sacrifice is given to those who need it most, such as struggling families that cannot put food on their tables and have no support. This gives them a nutritious meal to enjoy during Eid al-Adha, allowing them to join in with the celebrations and also helping them survive.
When it comes to the question of who has to give Qurbani, it all depends on personal and financial circumstances. Much like other forms of giving in Islam, like Zakat, Muslims must possess wealth beyond their means, which means having assets that meet or exceed the Nisab threshold.
Those who must do Qurbani are Muslims who:
If you meet all of these criteria in the Qurbani rules on who has to do the sacrifice, then you’re required to donate to the sacrifice to fulfil the act of worship, earn reward and help those in desperate need.
Another popular question among many believers is who is Qurbani compulsory on. It can be confusing if the sacrifice is an obligation or a voluntary act of worship. This is because different Islamic schools of thought have varying opinions on Qurbani.
The Hanafi school of thought, which is the largest school with about one-third of the world’s Muslims following it, sees Qurbani as an obligation. However, this isn’t an obligation with solid evidence, such as fasting in Ramadan or Zakat, which is known as farz. Instead, it’s an obligation that doesn’t have direct, clear evidence in the Quran or hadith, known as wajib. This means that every eligible Muslim in this school must perform Qurbani because it’s a duty.
As for the other schools of thought, Hanbali, Shafi’i and Maliki, Qurbani is considered as Sunnah Mu’akadah. This means that it’s a highly recommended act of worship for able Muslims to do because it’s a confirmed sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Whichever school of thought you follow depends on whether Qurbani is compulsory for you or highly recommended. Either way, the sacrifice is highly encouraged for Muslims to do to show their love and devotion to Allah (SWT), earn great reward and help the hungry.
A huge part of who must do Qurbani is the age at which someone needs to do the sacrifice. There isn’t really a set age for this act of worship as it’s based on when a Muslim reaches and passes the age of adolescence. This means that it’s only something that’s required of adults to do and children don’t need to be included in Qurbani. So, for households, only the adults need to give their share of Qurbani individually because the sacrifice is an individual responsibility, not a shared one. However, many believers offer extra shares on behalf of their children to earn more blessings and help even more needy people.
The Qurbani eligibility is based on the financial situation of a Muslim, as well as the rulings for who has to give Qurbani. In Islam, giving charity is always treated fairly and is never meant to burden anyone, meaning that those who have the means to give should do so to help those who don’t have any means or little support. Qurbani works in the same way to ensure that everyone who gives can do so according to their financial situation and avoid putting themselves into financial hardship.
A Muslim becomes eligible for Qurbani when they hold wealth that surpasses their essential needs. This means those who have money after sorting their immediate needs out, such as paying for housing, clothing, food and basic living expenses. So, if after you’ve covered these necessities, you still possess sufficient assets or savings that meet the Nisab, then you are eligible to give Qurbani.
The Qurbani threshold is basically the minimum amount of wealth a believer must have before they are required to perform Qurbani. This uses the Nisab threshold, just like Zakat, which determines who must donate.
The Qurbani Nisab uses a minimum amount of gold and silver that a person must own, and if they meet or exceed this amount, they must give Qurbani. The threshold is set at:
87.48 grams of Gold
612.36 grams of Silver.
So, if you have this amount in these assets and the monetary equivalent of the Qurbani Nisab in other assets, like cash and savings, you must donate Qurbani. Most scholars recommend Muslims to use the silver value for this sacrifice because it’s a lower amount that you need to possess, which means that more people can give Qurbani and, therefore, more people in need can gain vital nutrition that saves their lives.
So many people in the world struggle to have access to nourishing food and face unimaginable hunger every single day. They don’t get to have the privilege of having meat on their tables and many children and families are struggling to survive. Your Qurbani can change this and bring relief and joy during Eid al-Adha.
By donating Qurbani through Muslim Aid, you can ensure that those who need it most in the world will receive the meat from your sacrifice. Our team handle the whole sacrifice process for you on your behalf, making sure that it’s carried out in line with Islamic regulations and delivered quickly to vulnerable families who have limited access to food. With your donation, we provide healthy, nutritious meals to struggling families to help save their lives, restore their dignity, bring hope for a brighter future and allow them to share in the blessings of Eid.
Donate your Qurbani this Eid al-Adha and help transform countless lives.
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