FAQ

Qurbani Issues

Can a goat be sacrificed voluntarily in four shares on behalf of some deceased person?

In the case of a voluntary sacrifice made of one's own accord, one may include as many deceased as one may like. In the case of a waajib sacrifice on behalf of a deceased person one goat must be slaughtered separately on behalf of each one of the deceased.

What should one do for one's missed (obligatory) sacrifice of the past?

He should repent and sincerely seek Allah's forgiveness. All the missed sacrifices must be calculated and the money given to charity.

Is it permissible for two persons e.g. husband and wife to sacrifice a cow (jointly) which has a capacity of seven shares?

Yes, it is permissible, because none of the partners would have a share less than 1/7.

Can one reserve a part for Aqiqa (child-birth sacrifice) in the sacrifice of a large animal?

Yes, there is no fault in doing so.

Is sacrifice on behalf of the wife incumbent upon the husband to fulfill?

It is not incumbent.

Is it incumbent upon the slaughterer's helper (assisting in holding the animal) to recite "Bismillah, Allah-o-Akbar" ?

It is not necessary for the person who renders help in holding the animals legs, head, horns etc. to recite the takbeer. But if the helper holds the knife together with the one who slaughters and assist him in the use of the knife, such an assistant is compelled to recite Bismillah. If either of them deliberately omits to recite or thinks the recitation of one of them is sufficient, the slaughtered animal becomes unlawful.

What is Qurbani about?

Qurbani is about:

• Love for Allah in contrast to love of the self-obedience over rebellion.

• Loyalty to Allah in preference to loyalty to the family.

• Faith versus emotion.

• Struggle as opposed to pleasure.

What is the virtue of Qurbani?

There is nothing dearer to Allah Taala during the days of Qurbani than sacrificing of animals. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of judgment with its horns, hair, and hooves (to be weighed). The sacrifice is accepted by Allah before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore sacrifice with an open and happy heart. (Tirmizi, Ibn Majah)

On whom is Qurbani Wajib (obligatory)?

Qurbani is Wajib (obligatory) on every Muslim who is

• of sound mind - mature (has reached the age of puberty),

• Muqeem (i.e. he is not a Shari traveller)

Possesses the amount of 612,36 grams of silver or wealth equivalent to that value which is in excess of one's basic needs and debts on any of the three days of Qurbani. It is not necessary that this amount be in one's possession for a complete lunar year. (Fatawa Hindiyyah)

Note:

1. Qurbani is not incumbent on a child or an insane person whether they own wealth equivalent to the amount above or not, nor is it Wajib upon their guardians to perform it on their behalf. (Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah)

2. Similarly, it is not Wajib on a musafir (one considered a traveller in Shariah). A Shar'i traveller is he who proceeds on a journey with an intention of travelling 77 kms. He will be treated as a traveller as soon as soon as he departs his town. However if he intends residing at any place for 15 days or more then he will cease to be a traveller there. (Fataawa Hindiyyah)

3. A person upon whom Qurbani is not necessary should not incur debts beyond one’s capacity to offer the Qurbani.

If Qurbani is not compulsory on a person, for example, a musaafir then it is virtous to do so if it is within the person’s means.

When is the time for Qurbani?

The time for Qurbani begins after the Eid Salaah on the 10th of Zul Hijjah and ends at the setting of the sun on the 12th of Zul Hijjah. It is better to make Qurbani on the first day then the second, and thereafter the third. (Fataawa Shaamiyya)

In rural and village areas where Jumu'ah and 'Eid Salaah are not performed, Qurbani may be performed as soon as Fajr (Subhus Saadiq) sets in on the 10th of Zul Hijjah. (Fataawa Hindiyyah)

If a person residing in a town (where Eid salaah is performed) arranges for his animal to be slaughtered in a village (where Eid Salaah is not performed), then it is permissible for his animal to be slaughtered before he performs his Eid Salaah. (Fataawa Shaamiyyah)

If the Qurbani has been offered before the 'Eid Salaah, it will have to be repeated. (Fataawa Hindiyyah)

It is preferable to slaughter during the day. (Fataawa Hindiyyah)

What type of animals can be slaughtered for Qurbani?

It is permissible to slaughter a goat, sheep, cow, bull, buffalo or camel, male or female for Qurbani.

What should be the minimum age of animals ?

1. A goat, sheep, or ram is one full year,

2. A cow, bull or buffalo is two years old, and

3. A camel five years.

4. Animals that are younger than the prescribed age are not suitable for Qurbani. (Fataawa Hindiyyah)

5. If a sheep is more than six months old but less than a year, and physically appears to be one year old it will suffice for Qurbani. (Fataawa Hindiyyah)

6. A cow, bull, buffalo or camel will suffice for seven persons provided no one's share is less than one seventh and the niyyah (intention) of all partners is to attain reward and not merely to obtain meat. (Fatawa Shaamiyyah)

7. A goat, sheep or ram will suffice for the Qurbani of one person only. (Fataawa Hindiyyah)

8. It is permissible and preferable to slaughter a castrated animal. (Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah)

9. It is advisable to purchase the Qurbani animal a few days prior to slaughtering in order to build up some form of attachment with the animal by taking care of it. (Fataawa Hindiyyah)

Animals chosen for Qurbani should be healthy, free from faults and defects. (Fataawa Shaamiyah)

Which animals are not suitable for Qurabni?

The following animals are not suitable for Qurbani:

1. An animal that is blind, one-eyed or has lost more than one-third of its eyesight. (Fataawa Hindiyyah)

2. Animals that has more than lost a third of the ear. Similarly, animals which have no ears from birth. Animals with small ears are suitable. (Fataawa Hindiyyah)

3. Animals whose horn/s has been broken off from the root. However, an animal born without horns or if the horns are broken off but not from the root is suitable for Qurbani. (Fataawa Shaamiyyah)

4. Animals which have one leg lame to the extent that it walks on three legs only and is unable to use the fourth leg. However if the animal can walk to the place of slaughter on the fourth leg with a limp it will be allowed. (Fataawa Shamiyyah)

5. Animals so lean and thin that their bones have no marrow. (Fataawa Shamiyyah)

6. If an animal gets injured while slaughtering , e.g. breaks it’s leg, ear gets cut etc., the Qurbani will be valid. (Fataawa Shamiyyah)

7. If an animal was bought in a healthy and perfect state and thereafter became unfit for Qurbani then,

8. If the owner is not wealthy (possessor of nisaab) it will be permissible to offer this animal for Qurbani.

If the owner is wealthy (possesses the Nisaab), then it is compulsory for him to obtain another animal. (Fataawa Shamiyyah)

Can a man purchase the Qurbani animal for his wife form his own wealth?

A man may purchase his wife’s animal from his wealth with her consent. (Fataawa Hindiyyah)

What should one do if the qurbani animal gives birth before being slaughtered?

If an animal purchsed for Qurbani gives birth before it's slaughter,it is best to give the live new born in charity .Alternately, the new born animal should be slaughtered and the meat given in charity. (Fataawa Shamiyyah)

Can one use the skin of the Qurbani animal?

It is permissible to utilize the skin for one’s personal use, eg. he may use it as a Musalla or a leather bucket etc. However, if the skin is sold, it is not permissible to use the income thereof. It is Wajib to give it in charity. Sale of the skin without the intention of disbursing the money in charity is not permitted. (Fataawa Hindiyyah)

It is not permissible to give the skin in lieu of any services rendered. (Fataawa Hindiyyah).

The needy and poor students of Islamic institutions are the most favourable beneficiaries of these skins. This entails the reward of Sadaqah which is coupled with the service of reviving Ilm (religious knowledge). However, it is not permissible to give these skins to the teachers and laborers of the institutes as wages or salaries.

What happens if a person does not perform Qurbani whilst he has the means to?

Hazrat Abu Hurayra (radiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “He who has the means of performing Qurbani but does not do so should not come close to our Eidgah ( Place of Eid Salaah)”.

When should the Takbeerat of Tashreeq be read?

It is Wajib (incumbent) for every adult muslim to recite the Takbeeraat of Tashreeq after every Fardh Salaat-performed with Jamaat or individually from the Fajr of the 9th of Zul-Hijjah to the Asr of the 13th of Zul Hijjah. The Takbeeraat should be recited once only. The words are as follows:

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar laa ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar. Allahu Akbar walillaahil hamd.

Translation: “Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. There is no deity besides Allah and Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest and all praises belong to Him Alone.”

NB. Men should recite this Takbeer audibly whilst females should do so silently.