Ramadan & Hajj
Qurban (Udhiyah)
Uḍḥiyyah / Qurbān
The sacrificial animal slaughtered on the Day of Eid al-Adha and the days of Tashriq in remembrance of Ibrahim's sacrifice, with the meat shared with family, friends and the poor.
What is Qurban?
Qurban (Arabic: udhiyyah) is the prescribed sacrifice of a permissible animal — a sheep, goat, cow, or camel — performed on the Day of Eid al-Adha (10 Dhul-Hijjah) and the following days of Tashriq. It is offered in remembrance of the Prophet Ibrahim's readiness to sacrifice his son and Allah's ransoming of him with a great sacrifice (Quran 37:102-107).
Its Basis in the Quran and Sunnah
Allah says: "So pray to your Lord and sacrifice" (Quran 108:2); and: "And for every nation We have appointed a rite, that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals" (Quran 22:34). The Prophet ﷺ sacrificed two rams every year in Madinah, naming Allah and saying the takbir as he slaughtered them (Bukhari 5558).
Conditions and Distribution
- The animal: from al-an'am (sheep, goats, cattle, camels), free of major defects (lameness, severe illness, missing eye, severe emaciation), and of the prescribed minimum age.
- The time: from after the Eid prayer on 10 Dhul-Hijjah until sunset of 13 Dhul-Hijjah (the days of Tashriq).
- Distribution: the Sunnah is to divide the meat into thirds — for one's family, for relatives and friends, and for the poor — though the proportions are flexible.
Its Ruling
It is a strongly emphasised sunnah upon every able Muslim in the view of the majority of scholars (Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali), and an obligation (wajib) on every able resident Muslim in the view of the Hanafi school. Whoever can afford it should not omit it without excuse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Qurban and Aqiqah?
Qurban (udhiyyah) is the Eid al-Adha sacrifice. Aqiqah is a separate sacrifice given on behalf of a newborn child, typically on the seventh day after birth. Both are acts of worship, but their occasions and rulings differ.
Can the qurban be performed abroad on my behalf?
Yes. Many Muslims today appoint trusted charities to perform the sacrifice on their behalf in regions where the poor have greatest need. The intention is made by the donor, and the meat is distributed locally.
Etymology & origin
Qurban (القربان) is from the root Q-R-B ("to draw near"), denoting an act that draws the worshipper near to Allah; the Hajj/Eid sacrifice is specifically called udhiyyah, from the time of its slaughter (duha — forenoon of Eid al-Adha).
References
- Quran:
- 108:2, 22:34-37, 37:102-107, 5:3
- Hadith:
- Bukhari 5558 / Muslim 1966 (the Prophet sacrificed two rams every year); Bukhari 5546 (no animal with severe defects is offered); Tirmidhi 1493 (the merit of sacrifice on the Day of Sacrifice — narration discussed by hadith scholars on its grading)
Related terms
Aqiqah
The recommended sacrifice offered in gratitude on the birth of a child — typically on the seventh day, when the baby is also named and its hair shaved.
Eid al-Adha
The "festival of sacrifice" on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, commemorating Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son and marking the climax of Hajj.
Hajj
The fifth pillar of Islam: the pilgrimage to Mecca performed during Dhu al-Hijjah, obligatory once for every able-bodied financially capable Muslim.
Ramy al-Jamarat (Stoning)
The stoning of three pillars at Mina during Hajj — commemorating Ibrahim's rejection of Satan's temptations — by casting small pebbles at the jamarat.
Wuquf at Arafah
Standing on the plain of Arafah on 9 Dhul-Hijjah — the essential pillar of Hajj without which the pilgrimage is not valid.