As Eid al-Adha approaches, it’s important for every Muslim to understand how to carry out Qurbani correctly. From choosing the animal to making the sacrifice and distributing the meat, there are important steps and rules of Qurbani that every Muslim must know and follow.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of doing Qurbani, the rules of dividing Qurbani meat, and a few other important guidelines to keep in mind. Whether you’re doing it yourself or on behalf of someone else, this article will help make sure your Qurbani is done the right way, in sha Allah.
Things to Do Before Performing Udhiya
- Make an intention to sacrifice for the sake of Allah.
- Treat the animal well. Feed them well and give them water before the sacrifice. If possible, bathe them as well.
- Sharpen the knife well before slaughtering the animal. This reduces the animal’s pain and suffering.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Verily Allah has enjoined goodness to everything; so when you kill, kill in a good way and when you slaughter, slaughter in a good way. So every one of you should sharpen his knife, and let the slaughtered animal die comfortably.” [Sahih Muslim: 1955]
- Don’t sharpen the knife in front of the Udhiya animals.
How to Do Qurbani in Sunnah Way?
Islam teaches us to offer Qurbani humanely. There are many guidelines regarding this in the Quran and Sunnah, such as:
- Slaughter the animal in the name of Allah.
- While sacrificing the animal, say the following dua-
بِسْمِ اللهِ واللهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُمَّ مِنْكَ ولَكَ اللَّهُمَّ تَقَبَّلْ مِنِّي
Transliteration: Bismillaahi wallaahu ‘Akbar – Allaahumma minka wa laka. Allaahumma taqabbal minnee
Meaning: With the Name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest! O Allah, from You and to You. O Allah, accept it from me. [Sahih Muslim]
- Slaughter the animal with your own hands, if you are able. If you can’t do that, it’s also permissible to appoint someone else. But Allah’s Messenger ﷺ used to perform the Udhiya with his own hands.
- It is recommended to face the throat of the animal in Qiblah.
- After positioning the animal on the ground, slaughter it quickly.
- Cut the four vessels—the two main blood vessels, the windpipe, and the food pipe—clearly, but don’t overcut.
- Don’t break the neck of the animal during the sacrifice.
- Don’t slaughter an animal in front of other animals or into the blood of previously sacrificed animals.
- Never skin or cut any other part until the animal dies completely.
Things to Consider After Completing Zabihah
- Clean and wash the blood.
- Ensure the blood pit is covered properly.
Qurbani Meat Distribution Rules
What is Qurbani Meat?
Qurbani meat refers to the meat that comes from sacrificial Zabihah animals during Eid al-Adha.
How to Distribute Qurbani Meat?
Islamic scholars recommend dividing the meat into three parts from the sacrificed animal. One-third is given to the poor and needy, one-third is shared with friends and family, and one-third is kept for the personal consumption of the one offering Qurbani.
Allah (SWT) says in the Quran,
“And the camels! We have appointed them among the ceremonies of Allah. Therein ye have much good. So mention the name of Allah over them when they are drawn up in lines. Then when their flanks fall (dead), eat thereof and feed the beggar and the suppliant. Thus have We made them subject unto you, that happily you may give thanks.” [Sura Al-Hajj, 22: 36]
The rule of Qurbani meat distribution is also found in the hadith,
Ata’ ibn Yasar said (R), I asked Abu Ayyub (RA), How was the sacrifice conducted at the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?’ He said, “A man would offer a sheep on behalf of himself and his family members, and they would eat some and feed others with some.” [Jami at-Tirmidhi]
Who Can Receive Qurbani Meat?
Muslims with assets less than the Nisab value can receive Qurbani meat. But there is nothing wrong with giving Qurbani meat to the non-Muslims too.
Can I Preserve Qurbani Meat over Three Days?
Yes, you can do it after distributing it to others. The following hadiths support it.
Aisha (RA) narrated, “Some poor families among the desert dwellers came to Madinah on Eid al-Aḍḥa at the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who said [to Aisha]: ‘Keep with yourself enough meat for three days. Whatever remains, give in charity.’ After that, [these people] said: ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! The people made water skins with their sacrificial animals, and they rendered the fat from them.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘And what of this?’ They said: ‘You forbade us to eat the meat of our sacrificial animals after three days.’ He ﷺ said: ‘I forbade you this because of the [needy] people who had come. Now, eat some, and preserve some, and give some in charity.’” [Sahih Muslim]
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: “Eat yourselves and feed others and save. [Sahih Bukhari]
FAQs
Q. Can we donate money instead of Qurbani?
A. No, you can’t donate to charity instead of sacrificing animals.
Q. Can I cut my nails before Qurbani?
A. If you intend to give Qurbani, you shouldn’t cut your hair or clip your nails after the moon sighting in the month of Dhul Hijjah till you complete the sacrifice. Some scholars say it’s Mustahab (recommended), while others say it is Wajib (mandatory). So it is best to avoid cutting hair and nails during this period.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ says:
“When the ten days (of Dhul Hijjah) begin, and any one of you wants to offer a sacrifice, let him refrain (from shaving or cutting) his hair and nails.” [Sahih Muslim: 1977]
And a few more hadiths also say that if you aren’t offering Qurbani, you should also avoid cutting hair and clipping nails during this period, as this will reward you for doing Qurbani.
Q. What is the rules of skins of the sacrificial animals
A. If you want to use the skin of Qurbani animals, you can do it. But if you sell it, you can’t take the money for yourself. Instead, must donate the money for the sake of Allah.
Q. Can I give meat to the Butcher?
A. If you hire a butcher to prepare Qurbani meat, you should pay him money, not meat. However, if you wish, you may donate some meat to the butcher as part of distributing the Qurbani meat, but not as payment for his service.
Conclusion
Performing Qurbani during Eid al-Adha is a beautiful way to please Allah and share His blessings with others. But to ensure that your sacrifice is accepted, it’s important to follow the step-by-step process of Qurbani according to the Sunnah.
May Allah accept our Qurbani, purify our intentions, and allow it to bring benefit to us and those around us. And remember: Qurbani isn’t just about slaughtering an animal or sharing meat. It’s about doing it sincerely for the sake of Allah, following the way taught to us by the Prophet ﷺ.
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