Qurbani

As Eid ul Adha is approaching, I thought this article by Shaykh Saleem Dhorat would be useful. 

Qurbani is a practice commanded by Allah (SWT):

“So turn in prayer towards your Lord and sacrifice (animals).”

There is nothing dearer to Allah during the days of Qurbani than the sacrificing of animals. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Judgement with it’s 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. [Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah]

Zaid ibn Arqam (RA) relates that the Companions asked, “O Rasoolullah (SAWS) ! What is Qurbani?” He replied, “It is the Sunnah of your father Ibraheem (AS).” They asked again, “What benefit do we get from it?” He answered, “A reward for every hair (of the sacrificed animal). ” And (what reward is there for animals with) wool, O Rasoolullah (SAWS)?” they asked. “A reward”, he said, “for every fibre of the wool.” [Kanzul'Ummal]

On whom is Qurbani waajib?

Qurbani is waajib on every Muslim who is of sound mind, mature (who has reached the puberty), muqeem (i.e. he is not a Shar’ee traveller) and possesses the amount of 52 and a half tolas of silver (612-636 grams) or wealth equivalent to that value which is in excess of one’s aslee (basic) needs. It is not necessary that this amount be in one’s possession for one complete lunar year. It’s possession during the three days of Qurbani will make it obligatory. Qurbani is not incumbent on a child or an insane person whether they own wealth or equivalent to the amount above or not, nor is it waajib on their guardians to perform it own their behalf. Similarly, it is not waajib on a Shar’ee traveller.

NOTE: A Shar’ee traveller is he who goes on a journey with an intention of travelling 48 miles (or more). He will be treated as a traveller as soon as he leaves his town.

It is highly virtuos for one on whom Qurbani is not waajib to offer sacrifice for the Pleasure of Allah. He will be eligible for all the reward mentioned in the Ahadith.

During the days of Qurbani, sadqah and charity cannot compensate for Qurbani nor fulfill the waajib. Qurbani is an unique ibaadah. Just as Zakah cannot compensate for Hajj, or Sawm (Fasting) cannot compensate for Salaah, similarly charity cannot compensate for Qurbani.  However, if the days of Qurbani had passed, and the Qurbani was not offered due to not knowing, negligence or for some other valid reason, then it becomes waajib to give in sadaqah the price of Qurbani animal or the animal itself to the poor.

If a traveller returned home or a person acquired the required wealth on the 12th of Zul Hijjah before sunset,  it will be waajib upon him to perform Qurbani.

A traveller who makes intention of staying at a certain place for 15 days or more, no longer remains a traveller. He must offer Qurbani if he possesses the prescribed amount.

Days of Qurbani

 The days of Qurbani are the 10th, 11th and 12th of Zul Hijjah. The first day is better than the second and the second better than the last.

Time for Qurbani

In towns and cities where Jumu’ah and Eid are performed , Qurbani is not permissable before the Eid salaah. If the Qurbani has been performed before the Eid salaah, it will have to be repeated. Therefore, the time for Qurbani commences after Eid salaah on 10th Zul Hijjah until before sunset on 12th Zul Hijjah.

The Qurbani Animal

It is permissable to offer in sacrifice a goat or she-goat, sheep of all kinds, cow, bull, buffalo or camel.

It is necessary that the goat is 1 (full) year old, whether male or female. A cow, bull or buffalo will have to be 2 years old, and a camel 5 years. Animals that are younger are not suitable for Qurbani.

 A sheep (of any kind) not less than 6 months old, so strong and fat that it appears to be 1 year old will suffice for Qurbani. Otherise, it will have to be 1 (full) year old.

A cow, bull, buffalo or camel will suffice for 7 persons provided no one’s share is less than one seventh and the niyyah (intention) of all partners is to attain thawaab (for Qurbani), and not merely to obtain meat.

The Qurbani of only 1 person can be performed from a goat, sheep or ram.

If an animal seller says that the animal has reached the required age, and outwardly there is no sign to disprove it, then it is permissable to rely on this statement.

Animals that are castrated can be used for Qurbani. In fact, this type of animal is preferable.

The following cannot be used for Qurbani

Animals that are blind, one-eyed or has lost one third or more of its eyesight.

Animals that have lost one third of the ear or tail. Similarly, an animal that had no ear from its very birth.

Animal whose horn has been broken off from the root.

Animal which has one leg lame to the extent that it walks on three legs and is unable to use the fourth leg.

Animal so lean and thin that its bones have no marrow.

Animal so weak that it cannot walk to the place of slaughter on its own.

Animal completely toothless or one that has lost most of its teeth.

It is virtuous to purchase the animal for Qurbani a few days prior to slaughtering and care must be taken in feeding and nursing it.

Masnoon method of sacrifice

It is more virtuous to slaughter the animal with one’s own hands. If one does not know how to slaughter, it is preferred that he remain present while someone else is scarificing the animal. It is not necessary to make the niyyah (intention) of Qurbani with the tongue, however, it is necessary to say Bismillahi Allahu Akbar when slaughtering. 

Use a sharp knife and slaughter the animal quickly so that it does not suffer.

Do not sharpen the knife in front of the animal.

After slaughtering, do not skin the animal before it becomes completely cold.

Do not slaughter one animal in the presence of another.

It is mustahab (desirable) for one who intends to perform Qurbani to refrain from cutting hair or clipping nails from 1st Zul Hijjah to 10th Zul Hijjah (i.e. until after Qurbani).

The Qurbani meat and skin

It is permissable to eat the Qurbani meat.

It can also be distributed to relatives and friends whether wealthy or poor, Muslims or non-Muslims.

It is better to divide it into 3 parts; one for the family, one for friends and relatives and one for the poor and needy.

The skin of of the Qurbani animal can be kept for personal use, e.g. using it as a prayer mat, water bag, etc.

If the skin of the animal is sold, then it is waajib to give that amount in sadaqah to the poor (i.e. to those who are eligible for Zakah).

It is not permissable to give meat, fat etc. of the sacrificed animal to the butcher as his wages.

The meat of the animal slaughtered by partners should be shared by weight and not by estimation.

The rope, cover etc. of the animal should be given away as sadaqah.

Qurbani on behalf of the deceased

If one has been favoured by Allah with wealth, then he should also perform Qurbani on behalf of Rasoolullah (SAWS), his Sahaabah and his Ummah, the Prophets, and for his own relatives (alive or deceased), friends and teachers who have conveyed Deeni knowledge.

One should always remember and never overlook our beloved Rasoolullah (SAWS) and perform Qurbani on his behalf. Abu Talhah (RA)has related that the Prophet (SAWS) sacrificed one ram and whilesacrificing the other, he said: “This is on behalf of every one of my Ummah who belived in me and testified (to my Prphethood).” [Tabarani]

It is a matter of deep thought and consideration that the Prophet (SAWS) kept the Ummah in his mind while offering the sacrifice and it is deplorable for the Ummah not to remember him at the time of Qurbani.