Qurbani FAQs
Qurbani is also known as Udhiya is a spiritual act that is performed to bring one closer to the creator. How to do it correctly, when, and why are a little less clear? Our handy FAQs answers all your questions.
When is Eid Al Adha 2020?
In the Islamic lunar calendar, Eid Al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhul al-Hijjah and lasts for five days. In 2020, Eid Al-Adha will begin on the evening of Thursday, 30 July and will end on the evening of Monday, 3 August Inshallah.
Why do we celebrate Eid Al Adha?
The festival of Eid Al Adha celebrates the devotion of Prophet Ibrahim (as) to Allah (swt) and his readiness to sacrifice his son Ismail (as) to prove his faith and loyalty. Although despondent, Ibrahim (as) was willing to sacrifice his son but Allah in His Infinite Wisdom saved Ismail (as) and replaced him with a sheep.
As Muslims, we celebrate Eid Al-Adha to commemorate Ibrahim's (as) loyalty and obedience to Allah (swt). In doing so, a male sheep or goat is sacrificed, and this act is known as Qurbani or Udhiya in Arabic.
Is Qurbani Fardh (compulsory)?
The answer to this will depend on your school of thought (Madhab). In general, Qurbani is deemed a Sunnah practice of the Messenger (saw), who is reported to have said
‘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…’ (Bukhari)
Hanafi: Qurbani is wajib and is considered compulsory.
Shafi: Qurbani is a sunnah mu’akadah and is highly recommended, but not compulsory.
Maliki and Hanbali: Qurbani can be both a sunnah mu’akadah and /or compulsory.
Nonetheless, all schools of thought believe in the immense rewards that are attained by performing a Qurbani as this is something the Prophet (saw) did personally and encouraged his companions to do too.
Who should offer Qurbani?
Again, the answer to this depends on your Madhab.
Hanafi: Any sane adult Muslim who is eligible to pay Zakat (possesses the Nisab value) must give a Qurbani. As such, it is quite common for there to be a few Qurbani sacrifices made from one household.
Maliki, Hanbali and Shafi: the person responsible for the household can make the Qurbani on behalf of the family.
How many animals do I have to sacrifice?
One Qurbani equates to the sacrifice of a small goat or sheep, or alternatively a share in a larger animal, like a cow. Both options are of equal value and will fulfill your obligation.
You can also choose to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw) and perform a Prophetic Qurbani.
What is a Prophetic Qurbani?
This is an extra sacrifice, made on behalf of the Ummah. After fulfilling his personal obligation, the Prophet (saw) gave an additional Qurbani for the needy Muslims who could not afford to sacrifice for themselves.
When does the Qurbani sacrifice take place?
Qurbani takes place after the Eid prayer on Eid-Al-Adha. If the sacrifice is made before the Eid salah, then this is counted as a Sadaqah and you will still need to perform Qurbani after the Eid prayer.
Jundab bin Sufyan (ra) reported, ‘I witnessed the Prophet (saw) on the Day of Nahr (or Eid day). He (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 Muslim Hands, we take your Qurbani orders up until Eid morning and sacrifice animals over the five days of Eid.
What should I do if I’ve missed Qurbani in a previous year(s)?
You can make up for any missed Qurbani’s by either sacrificing an extra animal or donating the market value of the animal to the poor and needy. Simply calculate how many years you have missed, and you will know how many animals you will either need to sacrifice or alternatively, donate the value thereof.
The Muslim Hands team can assist you with both options.
When should I make my Qurbani donation?
Most people tend to make their donations during Dhul al Hijjah. You can also make your Qurbani donations up to the month before Eid-Al Adha. This is especially important if you want to give your Qurbani sacrifice in a certain location, as the quota system fills up quickly.
Muslim Hands allow donors to make their Qurbani orders up until Maghrib on the fourth day of Eid (13th Dhul Hijjah). This is because we already sacrifice the animals in time for Eid distributions, with the intention that some donors will give their money on the fourth day.
What should I do if I am offering a Qurbani?
When making your donation, please remember to give the names of all those who you are donating on behalf of.
If you are performing the Qurbani yourself, remember the Almighty and glorify him, after which you should mention the names of those who are also part of the Qurbani.
For example, one should say ‘Bismillah, Allahu Akbar. Oh Allah, this is from you and for you on behalf of so and so’.
After the sacrifice, one should say, ‘Oh Allah accept this from so and so’.
The person who intends to give the Qurbani is strongly encouraged to NOT cut their hair or nails between the first day of Dhul Hijjah, up until after the Qurbani has been completed.
Where and when is Qurbani distributed?
We work with community leaders in several locations where Qurbani is made and our teams on the ground ensure that your meat is distributed to those most in need during the days of Eid-Al Adha.
What if I don’t know where to give my Qurbani to?
Our ‘Where Most Needed’ option is specifically designed for those who cannot decide where to send their Qurbani. Simply choose this option, make your donation and our experts will distribute your sacrifice to the people who need it most.
