بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
“In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.”
Udhiyah is an Arabic term which means ‘sacrificing an animal’, and ‘Qurbani’ is an Urdu and Persian word derived from the Arabic word ‘Qurban’ which literally means an act performed to seek Allah’s ﷻ pleasure. It is technically used for the sacrifice of an animal slaughtered for the sake of Allah ﷻ.
Virtues of Udhiyah / Qurbaani
There is nothing dearer to Allah ﷻ during the days of Qurbani than the 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 ﷻ before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore sacrifice with an open and happy heart. [Tirmidhi]
When a person slaughters a Qurbani animal, he is forgiven at the fall of the first drop of blood, and verily, the animal shall be brought forward on the Day of Judgment with its blood, meat etc, and shall be increased in weight seventy times more than its own weight, and thereafter it will be placed on the scale of deeds. [Kanzul’Ummal]
Zayd ibn Arqam (r.a) relates that the Companions asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah! What is Udhiya?’ He replied, ‘It is the Sunnah of your father Ibrahim (a.s).’ 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 Messenger of Allah?’ they asked. ‘A reward’, he said, ‘for every fiber of the wool.’ [IbnMajah]
“Whoever has the capacity to sacrifice and does not do so, should not come to the place where the Eid prayer is offered.” [Ibn Majah].
What Is The Philosophy of Udhiyah / Qurbaani
The purpose of Udhiyah is to attain Taqwa. Allah ﷻ says, “Never does their meat or their blood reach Allah, but what does reach Him is your taqwa (piety)” (22:37).
Mufti Taqi Uthmaani states that the philosophy behind Udhiyah is that it is a demonstration of total submission to Allah ﷻ & a proof of complete obedience to Allah’s ﷻ will or command. When a Muslim offers Udhiyah this is exactly what he intends to prove. Thus, the Udhiyah offered signifies that he is a slave of Allah ﷻ at his best. And that he would not hesitate even for a moment once he receives an absolute command from his Creator to surrender before it, to obey it willingly, even if it be at the price of his life & possessions. This is exactly what the Prophet (a.s) did. There was no reason why a father should slaughter his innocent son. But, when the command came from Allah ﷻ, he never asked the reason to that command, nor did he hesitate to obey it. This is the true philosophy of ‘Qurbani’.
On Whom is Udhiyah / Qurabani Waajib?
Ruling No 1: Udhiyah is wajib (compulsory) on every sane, mature Muslim who is a muqeem (i.e. he is not a Shar’ee traveler) and possesses 612.36 grams of silver or it’s equivalent in wealth to that value, which is in excess of one’s basic needs (approximately £300 – the amount changes daily according to the value of silver).
Ruling No 2: It is not necessary for this amount be in one’s possession for a complete lunar year. It’s possession during the three days of Udhiyah will make it waajib.
Ruling No 3: Udhiyah is not wajib (compulsory) on a child or an insane person, nor is it wajib upon their guardians to perform it on their behalf. Similarly, it is not waajib (compulsory) on a Shar’ee traveler.
Ruling No 4: A sacrifice can be made on behalf of others such as minor offspring. This offering is not waajib (compulsory) but is mustahab (desirable).
Ruling No 5: A nafl (voluntary) sacrifice can also be made on behalf of a deceased Muslim.
Ruling No 6: Each adult member of a family who owns the nisaab must carry out his or her own Udhiyah separately.
Ruling No 7: If the adult children live with their parents, Udhiyah is compulsory on each one of them possessing the prescribed amount.
Ruling No 8: The Udhiyah offered by a husband for himself does not fulfil the obligation of his wife, nor can the Udhiyah offered by a father fulfil the obligation of his son or daughter. Separate sacrifices will have to be carried out for each individual possessing the required amount.
Ruling No 9: A husband or father may offer Udhiyah on behalf of his wife or son etc, with their permission.
Ruling No 10: It is highly virtuous for one on whom Udhiyah is not waajib (compulsory) to offer sacrifice for the Pleasure of Allah ﷻ.
Ruling No 11: During the days of Udhiyah, sadaqah cannot compensate for Udhiyah nor fulfil the waajib. However, if the days of Udhiyah had passed, and the Udhiyah 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 the Udhiyah animal or the animal itself to the poor.
Ruling No 12: If a traveler returned home or a person acquired the required wealth on the 12th of Dhul Hijjah before sunset, it will be wajib (compulsory) upon him to perform Udhiyah.
Time & Days for Udhiya / Qurbaani
Ruling No 1: The time of Udhiyah commences after Eid salaah on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah until before sunset of 12th Dhul Hijjah. The first day is better than the second, and the second better than the last.
Ruling No 2: In towns and cities where Jumu’ah and Eid are performed, Udhiya is not permissible before the Eid salaah. If the Udhiya has been offered before the Eid salaah, it will have to be repeated.
Ruling No 3: It is permissible, but not preferable to perform Udhiyah at night.
The Udhiya / Qurbaani Animal
Ruling No 1: It is preferable that one selects on animals oneself, nourishes it and becomes familiar with it & slaughters it personally, as this animal is to become the means of great recompense & not only that, but it is a substitute for the sacrifice of ones own child.
Ruling No 2: If the owner is unable to slaughter, it is better to delegate the task to another Muslim who is acquainted with the requirements of a valid Islamic slaughter. If the slaughter has been delegated, it is recommended that the owner of the Udhiyah animal is present at the time of slaughter.
Ruling No 3: It is permissible to offer in sacrifice a goat or she-goat, sheep of all kinds, cow, bull, buffalo or camel.
Ruling No 4: It is necessary that the goat is one (full) year old, whether male or female. However, a healthy sheep that looks like a one year old may also be used, provided it is at least six months of age.
Ruling No 5: A cow, bull or buffalo will have to be two years old, and a camel five years.
Ruling No 6: A cow, bull, buffalo or camel can be equally split into seven shares for seven individuals with the condition that no one’s share is less than one seventh & they all have the intention for Udhiyah / Aqiqah & not just for the meat.
Ruling No 7: The Udhiyah of only one person can be performed from a goat, sheep or ram.
Ruling No 8: It is preferable to distribute 1/3 of the meat among the poor, another 1/3 among one’s friends & relatives & then keep the rest for his personal consumption. There is no sin if one gives less than 1/3 in charity.
Ruling No 9: The meat or skin of the animal cannot be sold, or given to an employee or butcher in payment of his labour. It may be given as a gift. The skin of the Udhiya animal can be kept for personal use or given to anyone else for their personal use. If the skin is sold, it is necessary to give the money received in charity as Sadaqah.
Tayyibah Tree 