The celebration of Eid al-Adha is a significant time of the Islamic year for Muslims worldwide. It’s when the ummah comes together in celebration and worship to commemorate the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his unwavering devotion to Allah (SWT). This falls within the 12th and last month of the lunar year, known as Dhul Hijjah, which is a very important month due to both the holy pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) and the day of Eid al-Adha occurring. During Eid, believers spread joy to friends, family and the community by sharing meals together and uniting through worship. It’s a day filled with prayer, devotion and joy for everyone, including those less fortunate.
A huge part of the celebrations is the ritual of Qurbani. This act gives Muslims the chance to show their utter devotion to Allah (SWT) and remember the great sacrifice Ibrahim (AS) was willing to make. The Prophet Ibrahim (AS) was commanded to sacrifice his only son, Ismail (AS), to show his love and devotion to Allah (SWT). Even though this was difficult, Ibrahim (AS) stayed committed to his faith and took Ismail (AS) to Mount Arafat to carry out the sacrifice. Right before Ibrahim (AS) performed his duty, Allah (SWT) rewarded his devotion by sending down a ram to sacrifice instead. This began the sacred ritual of Qurbani that Muslims still perform to devote themselves to Islam.
The sacrifice has many regulations surrounding it that Muslims must understand to carry it out correctly and show their devotion. At CLF, we aim to help you make the sacrifice properly to follow in the footsteps of Ibrahim (AS) and help those in desperate need by giving the meat to them. Find out who has to give Qurbani and what you need to do during Eid al-Adha in our guide.
Who is Qurbani Compulsory On?
To understand who is Qurbani compulsory on, you need to know if the ritual is seen as a compulsory act in Islam. Different Islamic schools of thought have varying opinions on whether Qurbani is deemed a compulsory act of worship, so it all depends on the school you follow. However, even with the differences of opinion, Qurbani is still a very highly encouraged act of worship for all able Muslims to do during Eid. This is shown by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who urged his followers to carry out the sacrifice.
“The first thing we will do on this day of ours, is to offer the (Eid) prayer and then return to make the sacrifice. Whoever does so, he acted according to our Sunnah” [Sahih Bukhari]
The Hanafi school deems Qurbani as wajib rather than fard. Wajib still means compulsory, but without solid evidence from the Quran or hadith, while fard is definitely compulsory with evidence. This means that Qurbani in this school is a highly recommended obligatory act that able Muslims should do.
For the Shafi’i, Maliki and Hanbali schools, Qurbani is considered Sunnah Mu’akadah. This means that it’s a highly recommended act of worship for able Muslims because it’s a confirmed sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He performed Qurbani himself and urged Muslims to follow in his footsteps, so it is an act of worship that believers should perform.
No matter which school of thought you follow or whether Qurbani is compulsory or not, it’s still a highly encouraged act of worship that able Muslims must do to show their devotion to their faith, help those in desperate need and earn great reward.
Who Needs to Give Qurbani?
So, who needs to give Qurbani? When it comes to making the sacrifice, there are specific regulations that state when a Muslim is able to do it. These regulations are similar to the Zakat rules, so they can help you to understand when you should do Qurbani if you apply them to this act of worship. As the Zakat rules are very similar to the Qurbani rules, it means that every sane adult Muslim who has wealth beyond their needs should give Qurbani. If your wealth has met or exceeded the Nisab threshold and you pay Zakat, then you should also give Qurbani.
The Qurbani regulations that state who needs to give Qurbani are:
- Sane adult Muslims.
- Those who have met or exceeded the Nisab.
- People who aren’t travelling during Eid.
To know if you qualify for the sacrifice, you need to calculate your wealth to determine if you meet or exceed the Nisab. This is set at:
Gold: 87.48 grams
Silver: 612.36 grams.
If your wealth meets or exceeds these amounts in these assets and the monetary value of the threshold in other assets, then you must give Qurbani.
Exceptions for Who Has to Give Qurbani
There are specific exceptions when it comes to who has to give Qurbani. Again, these exemptions are very similar to the ones for Zakat and state who doesn’t have to make the sacrifice. These are:
- Those who don’t meet the Nisab.
- Those who haven’t reached puberty.
- Those who are not of sound mind.
- People who are travelling during Eid.
If you are in any of these categories during Eid al-Adha, then you aren’t expected to give Qurbani. However, if you aren’t in these categories, you meet the requirements to do the sacrifice and are highly encouraged to do it during the celebration.
Is Qurbani Based on Per Person?
Qurbani is based on giving per person due to the regulations that surround the act of worship. Anyone who meets the Nisab and doesn’t fall into any of the exception categories will give Qurbani individually. This is typically done as a donation to a charity, such as CLF, to handle the sacrifice properly and meet all the requirements needed. Doing Qurbani in this way means that you’ll give the monetary value of a small animal, one sheep or goat, or purchase a share in one large animal, like a cow or camel. The large animal is equal to seven shares, so if you have a household full of eligible people, you can each give toward a share of the large animal.
However, giving as a family still needs to be done individually and should only include members who meet the regulations. Now, this doesn’t have to be done separately. It can be a joint donation by purchasing shares of a bigger animal, as long as each share is for each individual who meets the regulations. As well as this, you can donate Qurbani on behalf of others in your family, including dependents like children, as this has always been done during Qurbani. This isn’t necessary, but you can do so if you wish.
Abu Ayyab al-Ansari (RA) said:
“At the time of the Prophet (SAW), a man would sacrifice a sheep on behalf of himself and his household, and they would eat some and give some to others.” [Sahih al-Tirmidhi 1216]
If you decide to include others in your Qurbani, you still need to make sure you give your share. You’re also not required to do the sacrifice on behalf of adult children as they can give their own share.
The Minimum Age for Who is Eligible for Qurbani
When it comes to who is eligible for Qurbani, many Muslims wonder if there’s a set minimum age when you should carry out the sacrifice. There isn’t a set age that makes a Muslim eligible for Qurbani because it’s based on when someone has reached and passed the age of adolescence. So, children don’t have to give Qurbani, and parents don’t have to donate on their behalf, unless you would like to. This means that you only need to donate enough in your household to cover those who are eligible and make sure that each gets their own share.
Qurbani Animal Rules
It’s also good to understand the rules for sacrificing animals to understand Qurbani more and know which animals you can donate toward. The animals that you can choose from to give to the poor and needy are:
- Sheep or Goats: For these, you purchase the whole animal to distribute to those who are facing hunger and hardship. They must be at least one year old and is one person's Qurbani.
- Cows or Buffalo: This option is under a larger animal that makes up 7 shares. You can purchase a share for your Qurbani and more for individuals who meet the requirements. They equal 7 people’s Qurbani and need to be at least two years old.
- Camels: Again, this option is a larger animal that makes up 7 shares. So, you need to purchase a share and ensure each qualifying individual has a share. These equal 7 people’s Qurbani and must be at least five years old.
As well as this, all animals you donate to must be healthy and free from diseases, meeting particular conditions of:
- Animals must be able to walk themselves to the slaughter site.
- They can’t have a lame leg that’s weak.
- They can’t be blind or have one eye.
- They can’t be toothless or missing half of their teeth.
- They must be a healthy weight and can’t be very thin or lean.
Donate Qurbani to CLF
Donate Qurbani to CLF to help those most in need around the world. Give your donations in time for Eid al-Adha, and our team will handle the sacrifice over the three days of Eid (10th to 13th of Dhul Hijjah). We’ll make sure that your sacrifice is done before the sun sets on the fourth day, and in line with Islamic regulations, so that you’ve fulfilled this act of worship correctly. Once the sacrifice is done, we’ll distribute it to those facing unimaginable hardship and hunger, to spread the joy of Eid and allow them to have a nourishing meal in dignity.
We make it easy to donate Qurbani in vulnerable communities for you to choose from. All you have to do is select the animal and the country you wish to distribute the meat to, and our team will do the rest. We’ll work quickly to carry out the sacrifice and distribute the meat to poor families, bringing a smile to their faces during Eid. Your donation can help them survive and bring hope for a better future. Donate before Eid al-Adha to transform the lives of those in need, and fulfil your act of worship.
