Offering qurbani (a sacrifice) is a revered act of worship strongly encouraged by Allah (SWT). Annually, during the sacred month of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims worldwide slaughter an animal – a goat, sheep, cow or camel – to commemorate the Prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son Ismail, in devotion to God. There are numerous qurbani regulations that must be observed for the animal’s slaughter to be considered a valid qurbani.
What are the qurbani regulations?
Who is required to give qurbani? When should we present our sacrifice? Are there additional factors we need to consider? Fear not! We have compiled a comprehensive guide on everything you should know about this sacred sacrifice.
Who is obligated to perform qurbani?
According to the majority of Muslims, giving qurbani is highly recommended, and as per the Hanafi madhab, it is mandatory for every sane adult Muslim who possesses wealth exceeding their needs (i.e., those who meet the nisab threshold). Typically, individuals who are eligible to pay zakat are also obliged to give qurbani. The Hanafi school of thought declares that it is obligatory for:
Each rational Muslim of mature age (who has attained puberty)
Non-traveling individuals
Those who additionally possess wealth beyond their necessities, equivalent to (or surpassing) the ongoing level of nisab (87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver)
At what age is qurbani Fardh?
The perspective on whether qurbani is obligatory or not varies among the different schools of Islamic thought. Nevertheless, for the welfare of those less fortunate, the sacred act of qurbani is highly meritorious and recommended for any individual who has attained a mature age (reached puberty), and owns wealth surpassing the nisab threshold.
When should qurbani animals be acquired?
It is essential to provide your qurbani donation in a timely fashion. Islamic Relief strives to execute all qurbanis over a period of 3 days (10th to 12th Dhul Hijjah).
The timeframe for sacrifice concludes when the sun sets on the fourth day. Thus, you can submit payments up until the end of the third day following Eid (13th of Dhul-Hijjah) before Maghrib prayer. However, we recommend offering your qurbani as early as feasible.
When must qurbani be carried out?
There exists a divergence of opinion among scholars regarding whether qurbani can be performed over 3 or 4 days. To honor this difference in opinion, Islamic Relief endeavors to conduct qurbani within 3 days. We only extend into the fourth day in areas where this is religiously accepted by the local Muslim community – and if there is an operational necessity for this additional day.
We procure the animals destined for slaughter in advance based on anticipated quotas. Therefore, if you contribute a qurbani on any of these days, the qurbani will be executed in a timely manner.
When is qurbani distributed?
Qurbanis are executed through Islamic Relief country offices that locally acquire and slaughter animals. Following the animal’s sacrifice, its meat is then allocated to those in greatest need. If challenges arise with livestock availability in a specific country (due to limited local supply, natural disasters, etc.), then animals are obtained and slaughtered abroad, and subsequently transported to the affected regions. All animals are sacrificed in accordance with Islamic guidelines.
Which animals are suitable for sacrifice?
The eligible animals should fulfill minimum criteria, such as the age of the animal for qurbani and their physical condition, including:
- Furthermore, all animals must be in good health and free from disease, excluding the following conditions:
- They must not be excessively thin or lean
- They must be capable of walking independently to the site of slaughter
- They cannot be toothless, or missing more than half of their teeth
- They must not be blind or have only one eye
- They must not have a lame leg that is so weak that they are unable to walk on it.
How to slaughter a qurbani animal For an animal’s slaughter to be considered a valid qurbani, it is crucial that the slaughter is conducted humanely in accordance with qurbani regulations. The following are some of the rules that should be adhered to:
- A sharp knife must be utilized to perform the qurbani – blunt knives may cause unnecessary pain and suffering
- Knives must not be sharpened in the presence of the sacrificial animal
- No animal can be slaughtered within view of another animal
- When the sacrifice is being performed, the words “Bismillahi Allahu Akbar” must be recited
- The animal must not be skinned until the body has completely cooled.
How to distribute qurbani meat?
It is advised to divide qurbani meat equally into three portions. After the sacrifice, 1 portion is retained for oneself, 1 portion is distributed to family and friends, and 1 portion is given to the poor and needy. Many Muslims opt to have their qurbani carried out in the world’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. When you contribute your qurbani to Islamic Relief, we distribute all 3 portions to the poor and needy.
Who can receive Qurbani meat?
While circulating your qurbani meat to poor people and destitute, we have established criteria and scoring systems to identify qurbani recipients, which ensures we reach the most vulnerable without bias.
The scoring system is founded on the following criteria:
- Families who subsist on less than the minimum income for that particular country
- Female-headed households
- Families with disabled and/or elderly members
- Children under five years of age
- Pregnant women
- Breastfeeding mothers
- Families with limited or no access to the market.
Should I refrain from cutting my nails and hair if I’m giving qurbani?
There are fluctuating suppositions on whether it is unlawful for you to trim your nails and hair or whether it’s loathed. Avoiding trimming your nails and hair in the event that you’re giving qurbani is required by the Hanbali madhab and prescribed by most of researchers.
What number of creatures am I expected to forfeit? Giving qurbani is compulsory for each Muslim who is monetarily fit for doing as such in the Hanafi madhab, and as per most of researchers, it is energetically suggested. If you’re committed to donate qurbani, the minimum you can contribute is 1 qurbani share, which is equivalent to 1 sheep/goat or 1/7th of a cow/buffalo/camel.
It is permissible to donate more than 1 share of qurbani should you wish to do so. The Prophet (peace be upon him) himself performed multiple qurbani for himself and the ummah. Consequently, numerous Muslims offer various qurbani on behalf of the Prophet (peace be upon him)and for perished guardians.
How many qurbani per family?
According to the Hanafi school of thought, each individual in the household who is obligated to donate qurbani must contribute a minimum of one qurbani. For instance, 1 qurbani is equivalent to a sheep/goat. A big animal such as a cow/buffalo/camel suffices for 7 people’s qurbani.
Qurbani rules for husband and wife As per the Hanafi school of thought, both the husband and wife are required to donate a minimum of 1 qurbani each if they are sane Muslims who possess wealth exceeding their needs. What is beyond their needs should be equal to (or greater than) the ongoing level of nisab (87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver).
What should I do if I have missed my qurbani?
Assuming you wish to make up for any qurbani gifts you’ve missed in earlier years, basically compute the all out number of years missed and give the relating number of offers this year. For instance, if giving qurbani was obligatory for you over the most recent 3 years, which you had missed, you can give 4 Qurbani shares this year.
Offering a penance accompanies limitations For those planning to offer a penance, it is prescribed by most of researchers that once the new moon of Dhul Hijjah shows up (i.e., on the first of Dhul Hijjah), you eliminate nothing from your hair, nails, or skin until you have offered the penance.
