Qurbani (Udhiyah): The Sacrifice of Eid al-Adha — What It Is, Who Owes It, and What Happens If You Miss It

Two Names, One Act

Every year at Eid al-Adha, Muslims around the world slaughter an animal in the name of Allah. You may know it as Qurbani — from the Arabic qurb, meaning nearness. In the classical texts of all four schools of Islamic law, the same act is called Udhiyah — the word found in the hadith literature, in Imam al-Nawawi's al-Majmu', in Ibn Qudama's al-Mughni, and in the rulings of contemporary fiqh councils.

Both words refer to the same act. Qurbani is the more familiar term in South Asia, Turkey, and wider Muslim communities. Udhiyah is the formal jurisprudential term. This guide uses both interchangeably and covers the ruling of all four Sunni schools in full.

A third, distinct term also worth knowing is Hady: The sacrifice performed specifically during Hajj. Hady has its own separate rulings. When Muslims who are not on Hajj discuss their sacrifice at Eid al-Adha, they are talking about Udhiyah.

Why We Do It: The Story and the Command

The Story

Allah commanded Ibrahim (AS) in a dream to sacrifice his son. The Quran describes the moment:

Then when the boy reached the age to work with him, Abraham said, “O my dear son! I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you. So tell me what you think.” He replied, “O my dear father! Do as you are commanded. Allah willing, you will find me steadfast.” Surah As-Saffat, 37:102

Ibrahim (AS) and Ismail (AS) both submitted. As the sacrifice was about to take place, Allah intervened:

"And We called to him from the side of the mountain, 'O Ibrahim, you have already fulfilled the vision.' Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. Indeed, this was a clear trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice." Surah As-Saffat, 37:104-107

The ram that replaced Ismail became the origin of Udhiyah. Allah memorialized the act of submission not by the blood or the flesh, but by the intention behind it:

"Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you..." Surah Al-Hajj, 22:37

The Command

The direct instruction to sacrifice is in Surah Al-Kawthar:

"So pray and sacrifice to your Lord [alone]." Surah Al-Kawthar, 108:2

And Allah confirms that this ritual is not unique to this Ummah:

"For every community We appointed a rite of sacrifice so that they may pronounce the Name of Allah over the sacrificial animals He has provided for them..." Surah Al-Hajj, 22:34

Is Qurbani Obligatory or Sunnah? The Madhab-by-Madhab Answer

This is the question every Muslim asks, and the answer depends on which school you follow. The scholars are agreed that it is among the most important acts of the blessed days of Dhul Hijjah. Where they differ is in the technical ruling.

Hanafi School: Wajib (Obligatory)

In the Hanafi madhab, Udhiyah is wajib (mandatory) for every adult Muslim who possesses the nisab and is not a traveler. Missing it without a valid reason is sinful.

The primary evidence is the command in Surah Al-Kawthar (108:2): A command in the Quran and Sunnah, according to Hanafi legal theory, defaults to obligation. Imam al-Sarakhsi in Al-Mabsoot uses this verse as direct proof.

A supporting hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever can afford it, but does not offer a sacrifice, let him not come near our prayer place." (Ibn Majah). Hanafi scholars take this as further evidence that neglecting Udhiyah when one has the means is a serious matter.

One internal Hanafi note: While Abu Hanifa himself held the ruling to be wajib, his students Abu Yusuf and Muhammad al-Shaybani considered it a strongly emphasized sunnah. The relied-upon position within the school, however, remains wajib. (See: Maydani, Lubab)

Maliki School: Sunnah Mu'akkadah (with one narration of Wajib)

The more famous and widely transmitted narration from Imam Malik classifies Udhiyah as sunnah mu'akkadah: A strongly confirmed sunnah that is disliked to abandon without a valid reason. A second narration from him holds it to be wajib. The majority Maliki position, and the one most followed, is sunnah mu'akkadah. (Kuwaiti Fiqh Encyclopedia)

Shafi'i School: Sunnah Mu'akkadah

Imam al-Shafi'i holds that Udhiyah is a confirmed sunnah, not an obligation. The key evidence is the hadith: "There are three things which are obligatory for me but voluntary for you: witr, udhiyah, and the Duha prayer" (Ahmad). The phrase "voluntary for you" — combined with the hadith of Umm Salamah (RA) in Sahih Muslim, which says "if one of you intends to sacrifice" — indicates to Shafi'i scholars that the act depends on personal intention, which would not be the case for an obligation.

Hanbali School: Two Valid Opinions

The Hanbali school has two recorded positions. The stronger and more widely followed opinion within the school is also sunnah mu'akkadah. However, a second and significant Hanbali position holds it to be wajib. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal reportedly said he strongly disliked anyone with the means leaving Udhiyah without a reason. Both positions are valid within the school.

The Practical Takeaway

Whatever school you follow, the conclusion in practice is the same: If you have the means, you give Qurbani. The scholars are unanimous that it is among the most virtuous acts of these days. The Companion Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated the Prophet ﷺ as saying: "On the day of sacrifice, there is no deed more beloved to Allah than the spilling of blood. The animal will come on the Day of Judgment with its horns, hooves, and wool. The blood reaches the acceptance of Allah before it touches the ground. So give Qurbani wholeheartedly." (Ibn Majah This is accepted by a number of scholars, though Ibn al-Arabi of the Maliki school notes there is discussion around its authenticity.

Who Is Required to Give Qurbani?

Across all four schools, the conditions are:

• Muslim. Qurbani is an act of Islamic worship and applies only to Muslims.
• Adult (post-puberty, baligh). Children who have not reached puberty are not required, even if they have their own savings or wealth. Many parents choose to sacrifice on behalf of their children voluntarily as a nafl (supererogatory) act, which is praiseworthy.
• Sane (aqil). Someone who is not of sound mind is not obligated.
• Financially capable. What counts as "financially capable" differs by school:
  • Hanafi: Possesses wealth equal to or above the nisab of Zakat (the same threshold that triggers Zakat obligation), beyond basic needs. If you pay Zakat, you give Qurbani.
  • Maliki: Has enough money to purchase an animal beyond essential living expenses for one year.
  • Shafi'i: Has money to purchase an animal that is surplus to the needs of oneself and one's family during the four days of Eid (10th-13th Dhul Hijjah).
  • Hanbali: Broadly similar to the Shafi'i definition.
• Resident (not a traveler). The Hanafi school explicitly exempts a person who is traveling (meeting the Sharia definition of travel distance) from the obligation of Qurbani. The other schools do not have a formal traveler exemption, though the financial conditions effectively apply regardless of location.

Women

In the Hanafi school, the obligation applies equally to women. There is no exception for housewives versus working women, nor for unmarried women living with their parents. If a woman owns gold or savings that meet the nisab, she must give her own Qurbani. Her husband's sacrifice does not cover her if she independently meets the conditions.

One Sacrifice Per Person or Per Household?

This is one of the most practically important questions, and the answer is different depending on which school you follow.

Hanafi: One Per Eligible Individual

In the Hanafi school, Udhiyah is wajib on every individual who meets the conditions. A husband and wife who each independently possess nisab must each give their own Qurbani. An adult child living at home who has their own job and savings above nisab must give their own. The household is not a unit — each financially independent person is separately responsible.

Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali: One Can Cover the Household

The majority schools hold that one sheep or goat is sufficient on behalf of one person and all the members of their household, regardless of how many family members there are. The evidence is the practice of the Companions:

"In the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, a man would offer a sheep on behalf of himself and the members of his family, and they would eat some and feed others with some." (Tirmidhi, from 'Ata' ibn Yassar from Abu Ayyub al-Ansari; Imam al-Mubarakpuri noted this hadith clearly establishes that one sheep is sufficient for the household)

The Prophet ﷺ himself sacrificed on behalf of himself and his family, and is narrated to have said: "In the name of Allah, and Allah is Greatest. This is on my behalf and on behalf of those of my Ummah who did not sacrifice." (Abu Dawud, authenticated by al-Albani)

Practical note for Hanafi followers: A cow or camel, shared among seven people, counts as a full Udhiyah for each of the seven. This is established in the hadith of Jabir (RA): "We slaughtered with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at al-Hudaybiyah a camel for seven people and a cow for seven people." (Muslim)

The Hair and Nails Recommendation

If you intend to give Qurbani, it is a sunnah mu'akkadah to avoid cutting your hair, trimming your nails, or removing skin from the first of Dhul Hijjah until after your sacrifice has been performed.

The evidence is the hadith of Umm Salamah (RA), in which the Prophet ﷺ said: "When you see the crescent of Dhul Hijjah and one of you intends to sacrifice, let him not touch his hair or his nails." (Sahih Muslim)

Important points:

• This applies to the person giving the Qurbani, not to every member of the household.
• It is a recommendation, not an obligation. Cutting your hair or nails does not invalidate your Qurbani.
• The Hanbali school holds that refraining is obligatory (not merely recommended) for those intending to sacrifice.
• The Hanafi school does not require it.
• The reasoning given by Imam al-Nawawi: it is in imitation of the one in ihram during Hajj, maintaining the complete state of the body so that all of it may be symbolically ransomed from the fire.

What If You Miss Qurbani in a Past Year?

Hanafi School

Since Udhiyah is wajib in the Hanafi madhab, a missed Qurbani from a past year requires a makeup. The makeup takes the form of giving the monetary equivalent of a sheep or goat in charity for each year missed. This should be done as soon as possible. Giving a live animal at the Eid sacrifice time is the proper fulfillment; the monetary value in charity is the compensation for what was missed.

If you missed Qurbani without deliberate negligence and wish to use the opinion of Abu Yusuf or the majority schools (who classify it as sunnah), you may rely on those views for past years. But the superior approach in the Hanafi school remains to give the equivalent in charity.

Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali Schools

Since Udhiyah is sunnah in these schools, there is no formal makeup obligation. However, giving an additional Qurbani this year with the intention of covering a missed year is a praiseworthy act that many scholars encourage.

What If You Cannot Afford It?

If after accounting for basic living expenses you genuinely cannot afford an animal or a share, Qurbani is not obligatory on you. The obligation only triggers when the financial conditions are met.

If you cannot afford a full individual Qurbani, consider sharing in a cow or camel with six others (your one-seventh share is a valid Udhiyah). Many Islamic organizations also offer Qurbani share programs at lower individual cost.

If even that is out of reach, voluntary sadaqah during these blessed days carries its own great reward. No one is left without a path to worship.

Summary

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Part 2 of this guide covers everything about the animal itself: Which species qualify, age requirements, the four defects that invalidate the sacrifice, how many people can share, the timing window, how to perform the slaughter, how to distribute the meat, and whether Qurbani through an overseas organization counts.