❖ Shar‘i Ruling on Giving Qurbani Meat to Non-Muslims
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 3 – Miscellaneous Issues, Page 281
❖ Question
Is it permissible to give the meat of Qurbani (sacrifice) to non-Muslims?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
Regarding the meat of Qurbani, Allah ﷻ states in the Qur’an:
﴿فَكُلوا مِنها وَأَطعِمُوا البائِسَ الفَقيرَ﴾
“So eat from it and feed the poor and needy.”
(Surah al-Ḥajj, 22:28)
And also:
﴿فَكُلوا مِنها وَأَطعِمُوا القانِعَ وَالمُعتَرَّ﴾
“So eat from it and feed the content and the beggar.”
(Surah al-Ḥajj, 22:36)
❖ Division of Qurbani Meat
From these verses, it is established that it is appropriate to divide the Qurbani meat into three portions:
✿ One part to consume oneself
✿ One part to give to relatives and friends (including well-off individuals)
✿ One part to give to the poor and needy
Since Qurbani is an act of worship and a means of seeking nearness to Allah, it is preferred that the meat be distributed among Muslims.
❖ Permission to Give to Non-Muslims
However, in cases where the purpose is taʾlīf al-qulūb (winning hearts), then based on Surah al-Tawbah, Verse 60, it is permissible to give Qurbani meat to such non-Muslims who:
✔ Are not hostile to Islam, and
✔ Show goodwill or openness toward Muslims.
❖ Practice of the Sahabah
It is narrated that ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ رضي الله عنهما once had a goat slaughtered at his home. Upon returning, he asked:
“Did you send any of it to our Jewish neighbor?”
He repeated this question twice and said:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
‘Jibrīl kept advising me about the rights of the neighbor until I thought he would make him an heir.’”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 1943; Musnad al-Ḥumaydī: 593 – Chain is Ṣaḥīḥ)
❖ Conclusion
✔ It is permissible to give Qurbani meat to non-Muslim neighbors or acquaintances where winning hearts or maintaining good neighborly relations is intended.
✔ However, the preferred distribution remains among Muslims, in keeping with the spirit of the worship.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
