Qurbani Rules Explained: Who Must Give Qurbani and When?

Eid al-Adha is expected to begin on 6th June 2025, depending on moon sighting. Known as the Festival of Sacrifice and the greater Eid, Eid al-Adha is a spiritually significant time for Muslims worldwide. It falls within the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar year, Dhul Hijjah. This month is a holy and sacred time as it marks the time when believers undertake the holy pilgrimage to Mecca – something that Muslims are obligated to complete once in their lifetime. Eid al-Adha marks the end of Hajj for pilgrims and is a time for loved ones and communities to get together and celebrate.

A significant part of the Eid al-Adha celebration is the ritual of Qurbani, meaning sacrifice. This ritual is steeped in history and commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim (AS). Ibrahim (AS) showed unwavering devotion and obedience to Allah (SWT) as he was told his son, Ismail, must be sacrificed to Allah before he reaches puberty. Prophet Ibrahim (AS) remained committed to his faith and told Ismail the prophecy of sacrificing him. They both were willing to obey the wishes of Allah (SWT) and went to Mount Arafat to carry out the sacrifice. Ibrahim (AS) bound his son’s hands and brought his knife to his throat. In that moment, a white horned ram appeared at Ibrahim’s side to be sacrificed instead, saving Ismail’s life. Allah (SWT) had rewarded their trust, loyalty and obedience.

This began the tradition of Qurbani, where believers make a sacrifice of an animal to Allah (SWT), which is then divided into three equal parts to share between them and their family. Qurbani also encourages giving to those in need, with a share going to the hungry and poor, fostering a charitable and caring community. With Qurbani fast approaching, it’s essential to understand the Qurbani rules to join in the celebrations and help those in need. Discover who has to give Qurbani and what it entails to celebrate Eid al-Adha.

Is Qurbani Compulsory?

Many wonder is Qurbani compulsory for Muslims? This is dependent on the school of thought, but Qurbani is highly encouraged across Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) highlighted this importance of sacrifice on Eid.

“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” [Sahih Bukhari]

The Hanafi school of thought sees Qurbani as wajib (compulsory). Wajib has uncertainty around if these actions are fully compulsory, unlike fard which means definitely compulsory. But it is still highly recommended and is considered as an obligation for Muslims in this school of thought.

The Shafi’i school of thought considers Qurbani to be sunnah mu’akadah. This translates to highly recommended because it is a confirmed Sunnah. A Sunnah reflects the actions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that he did himself, and Muslims are encouraged to follow in his footsteps.

Maliki and Hanbali schools of thought typically say Qurbani is sunnah mu’akadah, but some views have stated it is compulsory. With this being said, no matter which school is followed, Qurbani is a significant act that is highly encouraged and gives great reward.

Who needs to give Qurbani?

So, who needs to give Qurbani? This can be confusing for many believers, and it is difficult to determine if you qualify for Qurbani. A great way to help you understand who has to give Qurbani is to apply the rules of Zakat because they are very similar. This means that every sane adult Muslim who possesses wealth beyond their needs should give Qurbani. Typically, if you meet the nisab threshold and pay Zakat, you should give Qurbani.

The Hanadi school of thought outlines that Qurbani is compulsory for:

• Sane adult Muslims who have reached puberty.
• Those who own wealth beyond their needs, which is equal to (or more than) the current nisab threshold.
• Non-travelling persons.

The current nisab value is:

• Value of silver: £496.54
• Value of gold: £7083.42

Exceptions for Who Qualifies for Qurbani

There are exceptions for who qualifies for Qurbani, just like there are for Zakat. These exceptions are:

• Those who don’t meet the Nisab threshold.
• Travelling persons.
• Those who haven’t reached and passed puberty.
• Those who are not of sound mind.

If you meet any of these at the time of Qurbani, then you aren’t expected to give. However, if you don’t fall into any of these categories, you are highly encouraged to give Qurbani during Eid al-Adha.

Is Qurbani Per Person or Family?

Another common area of confusion when it comes to Qurbani for Muslims is the question of is Qurbani per person or family? Due to the rules of who qualifies for Qurbani, it means that donations should be made per person in the family. This means that anyone in the household who meets the nisab threshold and doesn’t fall under any of the exceptions needs to give their individual Qurbani.

They should donate a minimum of one Qurbani each, such as a small animal – one sheep or goat. However, a large animal, like a cow or camel, is enough for seven people’s Qurbani. So, if you have a household with seven eligible people, you could all take a share of one large animal. If you have a smaller number of eligible people, you could each take one share of a large animal as your Qurbani.

Qurbani Rules for Family

The Qurbani rules for family works on an individual basis and only includes those in the family that meet the requirements to give Qurbani. For example, a husband and wife should donate a minimum of one Qurbani each if they both are sane Muslims who exceed the nisab – 87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver.

A family with a household of believers who meet the requirements and possess wealth beyond their means can make a joint donation. Qurbani doesn’t have to be done separately; it just needs to cover one share for each person. This can be done by donating for a larger animal worth seven shares. The animal needs to be large enough to cover each person’s share, ensuring every adult Muslim in the household fulfils their Qurbani obligation.

Within the Qurbani rules for family, you are allowed to donate a share on behalf of other people. A husband can donate Qurbani on behalf of his wife, as this has always been done when performing Qurbani. Abu Ayyab al-Ansari (RA) said:

“At the time of the Prophet (SAW), a man would sacrifice a sheep on behalf of himself and his household, and they would eat some and give some to others.” [Sahih al-Tirmidhi 1216]

Although giving Qurbani on behalf of others is allowed, you still need to give your share too. As well as this, you aren’t required to provide Qurbani animals on behalf of your adult children because they can give their own share.

What is the Minimum Age for Qurbani?

The minimum age for Qurbani isn’t necessarily a set age. Instead, it is based on Muslims who have reached and are above the age of adolescence, meaning adults. This means that any children in your family don’t need to have a share of Qurbani. Due to this, parents don’t have to donate Qurbani on their behalf. With this being said, you can give or perform Qurbani on your children’s behalf if you wish to do so. Many families give more Qurbani than required, such as choosing a larger animal even though there aren’t seven people that qualify in the household. The extra shares can be on behalf of your children, but this isn’t expected of you; it’s personal preference.

When Should Animals be Purchased for Qurbani?

Now you understand who has to give Qurbani, it’s important to know when animals should be purchased. You need to aim to give Qurbani as soon as possible. It is best to make the donation before Eid al-Adha to ensure that charities, like Orphans in Need, can perform every Qurbani over the three days of Eid – 10th to 13th of Dhul Hijjah.

Sacrifices must end as the sun sets on the fourth day after Eid al-Adha prayers. Because of this, you can make donations up until the end of the third day after Eid (the 13th of Dhul Hijjah) before Maghrib salah. Orphans in Need encourages you to make your Qurbani donations as early as you can to ensure that it can be performed in time during Eid and the three days after (tashreeq), therefore fulfilling the traditions and celebrations of Eid al-Adha.

Rules for Qurbani Animals

There are also rules for the sacrificial animals to fulfil Qurbani properly. They need to meet minimum requirements, such as the age of the animal and their condition. The animals that can be used for Qurbani are:

• Sheep/Goats: These need to be at least one year old and equal one person’s Qurbani.
• Cows/Buffalo: These should be at least two years old and equal seven people’s Qurbani.
• Camels: These have to be at least five years old and equal seven people’s Qurbani.

All of these animals must be healthy and free from disease, meeting specific conditions:

• They need to be able to walk themselves to the site of the slaughter.
• They shouldn’t be toothless or missing half of their teeth.
• They mustn’t have a lame leg that is weak, making them unable to walk.
• They can’t be blind or have only one eye.
• They must be a healthy weight as they can’t be significantly thin or lean.

How Orphans in Need Distributes Your Qurbani

With the understanding of who qualifies for Qurbani and how this ritual works for Muslims, you can donate your Qurbani to Orphans in Need to reach the most vulnerable communities. We provide nutritious meals to families in need and use your donations to support millions of orphans and widows living in poverty. We carefully select animals that are suitable for Qurbani and carry out the sacrifice on your behalf. Donate your Qurbani as soon as possible so that we can carry out the sacrifices on the days of Eid, ensuring fresh meat is delivered quickly to orphaned and widowed families. Give the gift of a cooked meal so these vulnerable families can enjoy the blessings of Eid.