❀ The Legitimacy and Shar‘i Status of Qurbani (Sacrifice)
✿ Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
✦ Qurbani Is Legislated for Every Household
The term “Uḍḥiyah” refers to Qurbani (sacrifice).
[Al-Munjid, p. 494]
According to Imam Nawawi (رحمه الله), there are four variants of the word “Uḍḥiyah”:
➊ أُضْحِيَة
➋ إِضْحِيَّة — its plural is أَضَاحِي
➌ ضَحِيَّة — its plural is ضَحَايَا
➍ أَضْحَاة — its plural is أَضْحًى
[Sharh Muslim by Nawawi: 7/127, Tuhfat al-Ahwazi: 5/50]
In Urdu, the word “Qurbani” is derived from “Qurbān”, which linguistically refers to anything through which closeness to Allah is sought, whether it be an animal sacrifice or otherwise.
[Misbah al-Lughat, p. 668]
The author of Al-Qamus al-Muḥīṭ states:
“والقربان بالضم: ما يتقرب به إلى الله تعالى“
“Qurbān, with ḍammah, refers to that through which nearness to Allah is sought.”
[Al-Qamus al-Muhit, p. 127]
✦ Evidence of Qurbani in the Qur’an and Sunnah
➊ ﴿ وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا… ﴾ [Al-Ḥajj: 34]
“For every nation, We have appointed a rite of sacrifice, so that they may mention the name of Allah over the beasts He has provided them.”
➋ The sacrifice of Prophet Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام) and the replacement by a ram:
﴿ وَفَدَيْنَاهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴾ [Al-Ṣāffāt: 107]
“And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.”
➌ ﴿ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ ﴾ [Al-Kawthar: 2]
“So perform Salah for your Lord and offer sacrifice.”
➍ ﴿ قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي… ﴾ [Al-An‘ām: 162]
“Say: Verily my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.”
✦ Prophetic Practice and Consensus
➎ Anas (رضي الله عنه) said:
كان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يضحي بكبشين وأنا أضحى بكبشين
“The Prophet ﷺ used to sacrifice two rams, and I also sacrifice two rams.”
[Bukhari: 5553, Book of Sacrifices]
➏ Another narration mentions:
“The Prophet ﷺ used to sacrifice two strong, white, horned rams.”
[Bukhari: 1712, Book of Hajj]
➐ Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (رضي الله عنه) said:
كان الرجل فى عهد رسول الله يضحي بالشاة عنه وعن أهل بيته
“During the era of the Prophet ﷺ, a man would offer one goat for himself and his entire household.”
[Sahih: Sahih Ibn Majah: 2546; Tirmidhi: 1505]
✦ Scholarly Consensus and Legal Status
Ibn Qudamah (رحمه الله) said:
“Muslims have unanimously agreed upon the legitimacy of Qurbani.”
[Al-Mughni: 13/360]
However, there is a difference of opinion on whether Qurbani is obligatory or Sunnah.
✦ Those Who Say It Is Wājib (Obligatory)
Ḥanafīs say Qurbani is obligatory upon every financially capable person.
[Bada’i al-Sana’i: 5/62, Al-Lubab: 3/232, Takmilah Fatḥ al-Qadīr: 8/67]
✦ Those Who Say It Is Sunnah Mu’akkadah
Shāfi‘ī, Mālik, and Aḥmad (رحمهم الله) consider Qurbani as Sunnah Mu’akkadah.
[Bidayat al-Mujtahid: 1/415; Al-Qawā‘id al-Fiqhiyyah: p. 186; Al-Sharḥ al-Kabīr: 2/118; Al-Muhadhdhab: 1/237; Al-Mughni: 8/617]
The majority, including Ibn Ḥazm, say no Sahih proof establishes that the Companions regarded Qurbani as obligatory.
[Nayl al-Awtar: 3/472]
✦ Evidence of Obligation
➊ ﴿ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ ﴾ [Al-Kawthar: 2]
The command is interpreted to mean sacrificing for Allah alone, not necessarily obligation.
[Tuhfat al-Ahwazi: 5/76]
➋ Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
من وجد سعة فلم يضح فلا يقربن مصلانا
“Whoever has the means but does not perform Qurbani, let him not come near our Eid prayer place.”
[Sahih: Sahih Ibn Majah: 2532; Ahmad: 2/331]
➌ Mukhnaf ibn Sulaym (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
إن على كل أهل بيت فى كل عام أضحية
“It is (legislated) upon every household to offer Qurbani every year.”
[Sahih: Sahih Ibn Majah: 2533; Abu Dawud: 2788; Tirmidhi: 1518]
✦ Evidence for Sunnah Mu’akkadah
➊ The Prophet ﷺ said during sacrifice:
اللهم هذا عني وعمن لم يضح من أمتي
“O Allah! This (sacrifice) is from me and from those of my Ummah who did not offer Qurbani.”
[Sahih: Irwa al-Ghalil: 4/349; Abu Dawud: 2810; Tirmidhi: 1521]
➋ A narration states:
ثلاث من على فرائض وهن لكم تطوع: النحر والوتر وركعتا الضحى
“Three things are obligatory upon me but optional for you: sacrifice, Witr prayer, and Duha prayer.”
[Weak: Talkhis al-Habir: 3/254; Bayhaqi: 9/264 — Ibn Hajar declared all its chains weak. Fath al-Bari: 10/6]
➌ Reported that Abu Bakr and Umar (رضي الله عنهما) refrained from offering Qurbani, disliking that it be seen as obligatory.
[Bayhaqi: 9/265; Nayl al-Awtar: 3/473]
✦ Preferred Opinion (الراجح)
Qurbani is Sunnah Mu’akkadah.
➊ Imam Bukhari dedicated a chapter:
باب سنة الأضحية
“Chapter: The Sunnah of Sacrifice”
He quoted Ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما):
هي سنة و معروف
“It is Sunnah and well-known.”
He then quoted the Prophet ﷺ:
ومن ذبح بعد الصلاة فقد تم نسكه وأصاب سنة المسلمين
“Whoever slaughters after the prayer, his sacrifice is complete and in accordance with the Sunnah of Muslims.”
[Bukhari: 5546]
➋ Imam Tirmidhi also established a chapter:
الدليل على أن الأضحية سنة
“Evidence that Qurbani is Sunnah.”
He cited a narration in which Ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما) was asked if it was obligatory or Sunnah. He replied:
ضحى رسول الله والمسلمون
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Muslims used to offer Qurbani.”
[Weak: Ibn Majah: 3127; Tirmidhi: 1506]
Tirmidhi concluded:
“The scholars act upon this: Qurbani is not obligatory but Sunnah from the Prophet ﷺ. It is recommended. This is also the view of Sufyan al-Thawri and Ibn al-Mubarak.”
[After Tirmidhi: 1506]
➌ Abdur Rahman Mubarakpuri said:
“We say what Ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما) said: The Prophet ﷺ and the Muslims performed Qurbani.”
[Tuhfat al-Ahwazi: 5/76]
➍ Imam Shawkani stated:
“There is no dispute over the legitimacy of Qurbani. It is a great act of worship and a confirmed Sunnah.”
[Al-Sayl al-Jarrar: 4/73]
✔ Conclusion:
Qurbani is a legislated and highly emphasized Sunnah for every capable household. While some scholars (especially the Ḥanafīs) consider it obligatory, the stronger and more widespread opinion, backed by authentic narrations and the practice of the Companions, is that Qurbani is Sunnah Mu’akkadah, a powerful means of seeking closeness to Allah during the days of Eid.
