It is Sunnah to lay the animal on the ground and have it

face the Qiblah. It is Sunnah to say Bismillah Allah Akbar while slaughtering.
The animal should not be slaughtered in the presence
of other animals though the sacrifice will be valid.
The minimum requirement is that at least the word
Allah is mentioned. If one forgets to recite the name of
Allah, the animal sacrifice will be halal. However, if one
deliberately omits the name of Allah, it will be haram
to consume that animal.
The minimum requirement for the slaughter is that the
external jugular veins and the wind-pipe of the animal
is swiftly and completely severed with a sharp tool,
together with invoking the name of Allah Most High. If
only two of the passages and veins are cut, the slaughter will be deemed invalid. If any three of the four are
severed, the slaughter will be valid.

Udhiyah/Qurbani Through Agency

In the case of appointing someone else to offer the
Udhiyah/Qurbani on ones behalf, it is imperative that
the person appointed write his/her name down and
specify the animal as his/hers when purchasing. Then
while slaughtering, the person appointed must intend
that this is the Udhiyah/Qurbani of so and so and the
meat of that specified animal must reach him/her for
distribution. However, one may also appoint someone
else to distribute the meat on ones behalf.

(praiseworthy)-not wajib-for the one who intends to sacrifice to not cut or have hair or clip nails from the first of
Dhu al-Hijjah until the sacrifice is offered. This means that
a person will not be sinning of he does cut his hair or nails
during this time.
The Hanbali School however considers it haram to cut or
clip nails during this time.

Making up for Missed Sacrifices

If a person did not offer the Udhiyah/Qurbani in spite of
being able to afford it, he must make up for it by giving its
price in charity.
If a person did not find the time to offer Udhiyah/Qurbani
during his lifetime and bequeathed that it be done after
his death, the Udhiyah/Qurbani must be offered from
his/her estate and in this case, the meat may only be given to the poor.

Udhiyah/Qurbani on Behalf of others

It is permissible to offer optional Udhiyah/Qurbani on
behalf of others dead or alive. In this case, the meat can
be distributed to the poor and wealthy and the reward
will be passed on.

Udhiyah /
Qurbani /
The Eid
Sacrifice
in Islam
Rules
&
Regulations

Distribution of Meat
There is no specific injunction concerning to whom the
meat may be distributed. Muslims and non-Muslims,
wealthy and poor alike may be recipients of the sacrificial meat. One may keep all the meat for oneself if he/
she prefers. However, it is preferable to divide it into
three parts; one for the poor, another for friends, relatives, and neighbors, and the third for oneself and family.
The meat, the hide, or any part of the sacrificial animal
cannot be sold to anyone or given as wages to the
butcher or any employee.

Removal of Hair and Nails

In the Hanafi and Shafi School, it is mustahab

Disclaimer: There are slight differences of opinions regarding

some of the foregoing issues. We strongly recommend that
you consult a qualified Scholar of Islam whom you trust for
clarification, You may contact the compiler at the info provided
below:

Compiled by
Mohamed-Umer Esmail
nuecesmosque.imam@gmail.com

Islamic Center of Pflugerville

15803 Windermere Dr,
Pflugerville, TX 78660
(512) 677-4252
http://www.icptx.org/

Definition
Slaughtering of certain livestock during the days of Eid
al-Adha following the Sunnah (tradition) of Ibrahim
(alaihis salam) is known as Udhiyah in Islam. Its plural
is Adaahiy. Another term for it is Adha as in Eid alAdha. It is also known as Qurbani in some other languages.

The Days of Udhiyah/Qurbani

The days of Eid al-Adha i.e. the tenth, eleventh, and
twelfth of Dhu al-Hijjah are the days of Udhiyah/
Qurbani though it is preferable to do it on the tenth of
Dhu al-Hijjah. However, the sacrifice must take place
after the Eid prayer is over. Any sacrifice before the Eid
prayer is over will become void. For those performing
Hajj, these three days are known as Ayyam al-Nahr i.e.
the days of sacrifice. The Shafi School adds one more
day stating that Udhiyah/Qurbani can be done on the
13th of Dhu al-Hijjah as well.

History
It was legislated during the second year of Hijrah
around the same time as the fast of Ramadan, the two
Eids, Zakat al-Fitr, Zakat al-Mal. It is proven through
the Quran, Hadith, and Ijma` (consensus of the Scholars).

Status
According the majority opinion, it is Sunnah Muakkadah (an emphasized Sunnah). Imam Abu Hanifah considered it wajib (obligatory), though some of his students differed with him and considered it an emphasized Sunnah.

Who Slaughters? The Eligibility Requirements.

Hanafi School: It is an emphasized Sunnah or obligatory for every adult Muslim male and female who possesses zakatable wealth equivalent to $4,000 or nonzakatable wealth that is beyond ones primary necessities equivalent to $4,000 after deducting debts. Children who have reached the age of puberty are the
same as parents in this regard if they fulfill the eligibility requirements. They may appoint the father or another to do it on their behalf with their money or the

parent may do it on their behalf as a gift. A traveler does

not slaughter unless he/she wishes to do it optionally.

Cows: At least two years old

Both husband and wife are to slaughter separately if they

fulfill the requirements of eligibility. The wife is considered independent in this regard in the Hanafi School. She
may appoint her husband to do it on her behalf with her
money or the husband may perform it with his money on
her behalf with her permission as a gift.

Sheep: At least 6 months old

The relied upon opinion is that it is not an emphasized

Sunnah or wajib for minors to slaughter, though it would
be meritorious to do so optionally.
In one opinion in the Hanafi School, minor children are
also considered independent in this regard, thus it is an
emphasized Sunnah or wajib for them as well to slaughter
if they fulfill the eligibility requirements mentioned above.
The father will do it with their money on their behalf or he
can do it on their behalf with his money as a gift.

Shafi & Hanbali Schools of Thought:

It is an emphasized Sunnah for Muslim adults only travelers or non-travelers who are able to sacrifice who own
enough to buy a sacrificial animal plus enough to fulfill
their own needs and the needs of everyone they are
obliged to support on the day of Eid and the three days
that follow it. It is not an emphasized Sunnah for Muslim
children who are not pubescents. However, one slaughter
will suffice for the whole family including the wife and
children whom he is obligated to support.

Maliki School of Thought

It is an emphasized Sunnah for adults travelers or nontravelers only if a person has enough to last him/her a
year apart from the cost of the slaughter.

Animals of Slaughter
Camels, cattle (including buffaloes), goats, and sheep male
or female may be slaughtered. One goat and sheep will
suffice for one person while one cow, or camel will suffice
for seven people i.e. seven people can share in one cow,
camel sacrifice.

Age of Animals
Camels: At least five years old

Goats: At least one year old

All ages to be calculated according to the Hijri calendar.

Animals Invalid for Slaughter

The following defective animals are not acceptable for
Udhiyah/Qurbani:
1. Blind, one eyed or lame animal.
2. An animal so emaciated that it cannot walk to its
slaughtering place.
3. An animal with 1/3 of its ear or 1/3 of its nose or 1/3
of its tail missing.
4. An animal that has no teeth at all or the majority of
its teeth are missing.
5. An animal born without ears.
However, the following animals are acceptable
for Udhiyah/Qurbani:
1. A castrated male goat.
2. An animal that has no horns or its horns are broken.
However, if the horns of an animal are completely uprooted so as to create a defect in the brain,
its Udhiyah/Qurbani is not lawful.
3. An animal that has less than 1/3 of its ear, nose or
tail missing.
4. A sick or injured animal, unless it has some above
mentioned defects rendering its Udhiyah/
Qurbani unlawful.

The Sunnah Method of Slaughter

It is preferable to slaughter the animal with ones own
hands. However, he/she may appoint another person
to do it on his/her behalf. In this case, it is preferable
to at least be present at the time of slaughter, though
being absent from the slaughter does not invalidate it.
It is Sunnah to sharpen the knife so as to minimize the
pain caused to the animal. The knife should not be
sharpened in front of the animal as this will cause undue distress to the animal.