The Origins of Qurbani in Islam 

In the Islamic faith, Qurbani is the practice of ritually sacrificing an animal for Allah (SWT) during the days of Eid al-Adha (the ‘Feast of Sacrifice’). A more general term for sacrificing an animal to seek the pleasure and reward of Allah (SWT) would be ‘Udihya’. Qurbani is the specific sacrifice made during Eid al-Adha, in commemoration and evocation of key events from Islamic history.

The Muslim Festival of Sacrifice

Eid al-Adha can be translated from Arabic as ‘Feast of Sacrifice’ or, less literally, as ‘Festival of Sacrifice’. It falls on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijja, which is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar, but the celebrations and observances connected with this special day usually take place over the three days following Eid-al-Adha itself. These are the ‘Tashreeq’ days.
Eid al-Adha is the second of the two main festivals in Islam. Eid al-Fitr (the end of the holy month of Ramadan) is the other, and Eid al-Adha is often known as the ‘Greater Eid’, reflecting its historical and spiritual importance within Islam and the significance of the month of Dhu al-Hijja. This is also the month in which the Hajj – the pilgrimage to Mecca – is undertaken.

Why Qurbani is Important in Islam

Qurbani commemorates the act of Ibrahim (AS), a patriarch who was prepared to sacrifice his beloved son Ishmael (AS) for the sake of Allah (SWT). Ibrahim had been told that he would have a righteous son but that he would be sacrificed for God when he reached puberty. Ishmael was born and lived with Ibrahim.

‘And when he was old enough to walk with him, he [Ibrahim] said, “O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am sacrificing you, so see what you think.” He [Ismail] said, “O my father! Do as you are commanded. If Allah wills, you shall find me of the patient.”’ (Qur’an, 37:102)

Neither Ibrahim (AS) nor Ishmael hesitated to obey the prophecy and fulfil the word of Allah (SWT). Ishmael (AS) was prepared to give up his life, and Ibrahim (AS) was prepared to sacrifice his long-desired and righteous son.

In some narrations of the story, Shaytan (the Devil) appears to Ibrahim (AS) three times, each time trying to convince him not to sacrifice his son and that it would be a terrible crime. Others tell of Shaytan appearing to Ibrahim (AS), Ismail (AS) and Hagar (Ibrahim’s wife and mother of Ismail) to dissuade each of them. In each telling the loyalty to Allah (SWT) is undiminished and it is attested that if the instruction was from Allah (SWT) they must accept it. Shaytan is stoned (either three times by Ibrahim or once each by the members of the family) and driven away.

Ibrahim (AS) prepared to sacrifice his son, the person most dear to him in the world. Both father and son testified their faith and remembered Allah. As the knife reached Ismail’s neck, Ibrahim (AS) heard a voice:
“We called to him, “O Ibrahim, you have fulfilled the vision.” Indeed, in this way We reward the doers of good. Indeed, this was certainly the clear trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice, and We left for him this favourable mention among later generations: “Peace upon Ibrahim.”’ (Qu’ran, 37:103-109).

A white and horned ram appeared at Ibrahim’s side. He sacrificed this to Allah (SWT) instead of his son.

It is this obedience and devotion to Allah (SWT), and the sacrifice that Ibrahim (AS) was prepared to make to hold it, that Muslims remember each year when they practice Qurbani and sacrifice an animal to Allah (SWT).

The First Qurbani in Islam

The Qur’an first mentions the word Qurbani in an earlier story regarding the sons of the prophet Adam (AS), Habil and Qabil. Each wished to offer a sacrifice to Allah (SWT) to resolve a difference between them – whoever’s sacrifice was accepted would be right. Habil, a shepherd, offered the best and finest ram from his flock. Qabil was a farmer but did not offer his best produce. Allah (SWT) accepted Habil’s sacrifice and took it into heaven. Allah (SWT) only accepts offerings from those who display taqwa – consciousness of God, sincere faith and purity of intention.

In tafseer (explanations and commentary of the Qu’ran), it is said that the ram had ‘grazed in Paradise for 40 years.’ Another tasfeer states that the ram sent down to Abrahim was the one that Habil had sacrificed years before.

This explicitly links these two significant acts of sacrifice across the history of Islam. The thoughts, faith and actions of both Habil and Ibrahim (AS), and Habil’s horned ram being provided to Ibrahim (AS) in place of his son, show that Qurbani can only be meaningfully performed by those who have taqwa. It must be a worthy sacrifice that is well-treated in keeping with the Islamic way.

Qurbani is not simply an annual task to be completed; it should be done with reverence as an opportunity to draw closer to Allah (SWT). The word Qurbani has its roots in the Arabic word qurb meaning ‘nearness’.  It is a sacrifice to bring Muslims closer to God and the history of their faith.

The Stipulations of Qurbani

For a Qurbani sacrifice to be recognised and legal it must be made between the dawn of the tenth day to sunset of the thirteenth day of Dhu I-Hijjah.

The animals offered can be sheep, goats, lambs, cows (also buffalos) or camels. They cannot be excessively thin or lean and must be able to walk themselves to the site of the slaughter. They must be healthy, free from disease and must not be blind or one-eyed. They must not have docked tails or cropped ears. They cannot be missing more than half their teeth or be missing other parts of their body. All this is in keeping with the principle of showing taqwa and sincerely giving your best offerings as a sacrifice. The animal must be slaughtered in keeping with the dhabihah methods that apply to halal animals.

The meat from the sacrificed animal is divided into three equal portions – one for the poor and needy, one for the person offering the sacrifice and another for their family.

Since it is no longer practical for every Muslim to slaughter an animal for their Qurbani and distribute the meat to those who need it, the sacrifices are usually performed by charities and other organisations who procure the animals, carry out the sacrifice in the correct way and then distribute the meat. Muslims pay to purchase an animal to be their Qurbani, even if the sacrifice actually takes place many thousands of miles away.

Prophetic Qurbani

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) instigated the modern Islamic practice of Qurbani at Eid al-Adha to remember these important sacrifices. It is one of the sunnah – the traditions that Muslims from the time of Muhammad (PBUH) saw, followed and passed down to the generation that followed.

Another related sunnah is sacrificing a second animal as Qurbani on behalf of those who cannot afford it. The Prophet said “I am the son of two sacrificed people” (Hakim), in reference to his connection with Ismail (AS) and his own father Abdullah, who was also destined to be sacrificed by his father but was spared by Allah (SWT). In recognition of this, it became the practice of The Prophet (PBUH) to sacrifice two animals as Qurbani – one for himself and one for those who could not sacrifice.

Doing this increases both the spiritual benefits of the sacrifice and the amount of meat that can be distributed to the needy.

Is Qurbani Mandatory in Islam?

Beliefs about the requirements for Qurbani differ within the Muslim faith. For most Muslims it is mandatory to perform Qurbani.

The largest school of Islamic thought within the largest denomination of Islam (the Hanafi school within Sunni Islam) comprises about two-thirds of all Muslims in the world. Hanafism decrees that Qurbani is fard – an obligation - which applies to Muslims who are also eligible to pay Zakat. This is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and requires every adult Muslim who owns wealth over a certain amount to pay 2.5% of that wealth as Zakat each year.

Other branches and schools of Islam do not hold Qurbani to be an obligation. None the less it is considered a highly desirable and deeply symbolic act that Muslims are encouraged to perform.

Can Qurbani be Part of Zakat?

Qurbani cannot be part of Zakat as they are different rituals with separate purposes. Zakat is to share an individual’s wealth among fellow Muslims in the world who are in need. Although some of the meat from the animal sacrificed as Qurbani is given to the needy, Qurbani itself is the act of sacrifice, not the distribution of the food. The sacrifice is a spiritual act to show loyalty and forge closeness with Allah (SWT) and so must be treated separately from Zakat and its more practical concerns.

Now with a better understanding of Qurbani, be sure to give your Qurbani through Charity Meals for Eid-al-Adha, the Muslim Festival of Sacrifice.