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Qurbani Rules and FAQs

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What Are the Rules on Qurbani?

Qurbani is an important act of faith, obligatory (Wajib) upon every sane, adult Muslim, eligible to pay Zakat. It must be performed according to rulings set down by the Holy Quran and Sunnah, in order to ensure it is accepted by Allah (SWT). So, what are the most crucial conditions for Qurbani?

1. What is Qurbani in Islam?

Qurbani or Udhiyah is the act of sacrificing an animal on Eid ul-Adha to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to offer his own son as a sacrifice to Allah (SWT).

‘Neither their meat nor blood reaches Allah. Rather, it is your piety that reaches Him. This is how He has subjected them to you so that you may proclaim the greatness of Allah for what He has guided you to, and give good news to the good-doers.’ (Holy Qur’an 22:37)

The sacrifice is a way for us to get closer to Allah (SWT). It demonstrates our piety and is symbolic of our Tawakkul (trust) in His plan even when we can’t see the path clearly ahead of us.

2. Is Qurbani Fard or Sunnah?

Many Muslims consider Qurbani to be Fard. In fact, the four Islamic schools of thought state that Qurbani is either Wajib (compulsory) or Sunnah Mu’akkada (a confirmed and highly recommended Sunnah).

‘And for every [religious] community We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. For your god is one God, so to Him submit. And, [O Muḥammad], give good tidings to the humble [before their Lord].’ (Holy Qur’an 22:34)

That said, we should not take Wajib actions lightly. According to the Hanafi School, Wajib is compulsory, just like Fard, but without the definitive evidence of Fard. So, we shouldn’t forgo Wajib actions, if we can help it.

3. What are the benefits of Qurbani?

For the giver, the spiritual rewards of giving Qurbani are numerous. In Arabic, the word ‘Qurb’ means ‘to approach’ or ‘to get near’, so this is a way for us to draw nearer to Allah (SWT). 

The offering of Qurbani has personal and social benefits to our lives as well. It is reported that our Prophet (SAW) said:

‘A believer who performs Qurbani in sincerity will reap a reward for every hair of the animal he/she sacrifices.’ (Tirmidhi)

On a social level, performing Qurbani engenders the spirit of unity among Muslims, and inspires happiness through the act of giving. For many of the people that we distribute your Qurbani to, Eid ul-Adha is often the only time of year they get to eat meat. So, giving Qurbani to displaced families and some of the neediest individuals in the world means the poor can also celebrate the festival of Eid.

4. How do you distribute Qurbani?

At Aryana Aid, we distribute your Qurbani where it’s most needed. We deliver it to orphans, widows and displaced and vulnerable people. We operate in some of the poorest areas, and our local knowledge and experience ensure nobody is overlooked.

Because the sourcing, preparing, and distribution of the meat can take time, we encourage everyone to book early. That said, we will make sure to perform your Qurbani and distribute all the meat in time for the Eid celebrations, Insha’Allah.

5. When is Qurbani performed?

The sacrifice must take place after the Eid Prayer, on Eid ul-Adha, any time between the 10th and the 12th day of Dhul Hijjah. Any sacrifice before Eid Prayer will only count as Sadaqah, which means you would still have not fulfilled your Qurbani obligation. The Prophet (SAW) said:

‘Whoever slaughtered the sacrifice before offering the Eid prayer, should slaughter another sacrifice in its place; and whoever has not slaughtered their sacrifice yet, should slaughter now.’ (Bukhari)

At Aryana Aid, we do take Qurbani orders up until the Eid prayer and sacrifice the animals over the last four days of Eid ul-Adha, after the Eid Prayer. Please place your order in advance to make sure the Qurbani you’re offering reaches the poor in time for Eid.

6. What animals can be sacrificed for Qurbani?

For Allah (SWT) to accept your Qurbani, the animal you offer in sacrifice must meet the following conditions:

  • Your Qurbani animal must be a beast of cattle: sheep, goats, cows, oxen, camels etc.
  • Your Qurbani animal must have reached adulthood.
  • Your Qurbani animal must be healthy, with no impaired limbs or any other physical defects.
  • Your Qurbani animal must not be undernourished, or too skinny that no one would ordinarily want to purchase it.

How many shares for Qurbani must we sacrifice?

One Qurbani means either a small animal, like a goat or a sheep. With large animals, like a cow or camel, we can offer one share of the animal as Qurbani. Both are equally rewarded and ensure you have completed your obligation.

Here are our Qurbani prices for Eid ul-Adha 2023 for whole animals and shares in larger animals:

7. Can we cut our nails and hair before Qurbani?

It is recommended for those who intend to offer Qurbani to abstain from cutting their nails and hair once we enter the month of Dhul Hijjah, until after their sacrifice is performed on the first day of Eid.

‘When the ten days [of Dhul Hijjah] commence and a person has a sacrificial animal, which he intends to slaughter, then let him not cut his hair or pare his nails.’ (Muslim)

The reason behind this instruction is not clearly mentioned, but we shouldn’t risk having our Qurbani rejected.

8. Can we give money instead of Qurbani?

In the past, it was customary for people to perform the sacrifice themselves and share the meat with their poor neighbours. Nowadays, for Muslims living in the West and in big cities, it is near impossible to continue this practice. 

But Allah (SWT) has made it permissible for us to entrust our Qurbani to another Muslim who can perform it on our behalf. So, it’s become common to donate money to charities that can do so, and who will distribute the meat to the poor. 

That said, the onus still lies with us to do our market research and choose a reliable charity. Be wary of cheap Qurbani deals – if the price sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. When entrusting your Qurbani obligation to a third party, make sure they can perform and carry out your sacrifice according to the conditions laid out in the Holy Quran and Sunnah. 

9. Can Qurbani be given in the name of a deceased person?

It is acceptable to offer Qurbani on behalf of a deceased loved one. According to the Hanbali school of thought, the rewards of such an offering will reach them. However, singling out the dead and offering a Qurbani specifically for them is not something that our Prophet (SAW) used to do. You may also include your deceased loved ones among those members of your family on whose behalf you are already offering Qurbani.

10. What is a Prophetic Qurbani?

It was the practice of our Prophet (SAW) to offer two animals in sacrifice instead of one. The first would be for himself, and the second he’d offer on behalf of someone in his Ummah who couldn’t afford to give Qurbani.

“The Prophet (PBUH) sacrificed for the one who could not sacrifice from his Ummah, one who bore witness to the Oneness of Allah and (his) Prophethood.” (Tabarani).

Many of the companions of our Prophet (SAW) used to follow this beautiful Sunnah, and many Muslims do so today. To double your rewards this Eid ul-Adha, why not offer two Qurbanis, or two shares this Eid ul-Adha?

11. Ensure your Qurbani is performed in time

Starting to plan your Qurbani? This year, the first day of Eid ul-Adha falls on the 28th of June. Remember that Qurbani is time-sensitive. Act early to book your sacrifice with a trusted Qurbani partner to avoid disappointment.

At Aryana Aid, we perform hundreds of Qurbanis and organise distributions to thousands of needy and displaced people. To ensure the smooth running of our operations, we need to plan and make logistical arrangements in advance. This is why we ask donors to book their Qurbani early with us. 

Book your Qurbani now

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