❖ Is It Permissible to Send Qurbani Money to Another Region? Qur’anic & Hadith Evidences
Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, Page 614✍ Question:
Some groups and organizations publish newspaper advertisements stating:
"Deposit your Qurbani money here, and we will arrange for Qurbani to be carried out in Kashmir. The meat will then be distributed among local residents, refugees, and Mujahideen."
Is such a practice permissible in light of the Qur'an and Sunnah?
Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، أما بعد:
Assuming the question has been stated accurately, it is incorrect to think that Qurbani is merely about arranging for meat to be eaten or distributed. The belief that sending money elsewhere for this purpose suffices for offering Qurbani and earns the full reward and virtue is a misconception.
Qurbani is not just a distribution of meat — it is an act of worship that comes with specific Sunnahs and etiquettes, without which the essence of Qurbani is lost.
Important Sunnahs and Etiquettes of Qurbani
➊ The Most Beloved Deed to Allah on the Day of Sacrifice is Shedding Blood
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(عن عَائِشَةُ ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : مَا عَمِلَ ابْنُ آدَمَ يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ عَمَلًا أَحَبَّ إلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ إرَاقَةِ دَمٍ…)
Sunan Ibn Mājah & al-Tirmidhī — Ḥadīth ḥasan gharīb“No action performed by the son of Ādam on the Day of Sacrifice is more beloved to Allah than the shedding of blood (of the sacrificial animal).”
❖ This great virtue cannot be attained simply by sending money elsewhere.
➋ Slaughtering the Animal at the Eid Ground (Muṣallā) is Sunnah
Narrated by Nāfiʿ from Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما:
(كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَذْبَحُ وَيَنْحَرُ بِالْمُصَلَّى)
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to offer the sacrifice at the Eid ground.”
❖ Sending money elsewhere means this Sunnah will be abandoned.
➌ Fattening and Preparing the Sacrificial Animal is Recommended
Narrated by Abū Umāmah ibn Sahl رضي الله عنه:
(كُنَّا نُسَمِّنُ الْأُضْحِيَّةَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ يُسَمِّنُونَ)
“We used to fatten our sacrificial animals in Madinah, and the Muslims used to do the same.”
❖ This virtuous act is lost when one only sends money.
➍ It is Preferable to Slaughter the Animal With One’s Own Hand
Narrated by Anas رضي الله عنه:
(ضَحَّى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِكَبْشَيْنِ أَمْلَحَيْنِ … فَذَبَحَهُمَا بِيَدِهِ)
“The Prophet ﷺ sacrificed two white rams with black markings … and he slaughtered them with his own hands.”
❖ This Sunnah is only possible if the person performs the sacrifice in person.
➎ Laying the Animal Facing the Qiblah is Sunnah
Narrated by Jābir رضي الله عنه:
(ذَبَحَ النَّبِىُّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَوْمَ الذَّبْحِ كَبْشَيْنِ… فَلَمَّا وَجَّهَهُمَا قَالَ : « إِنِّى وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِىَ…)
The Prophet ﷺ directed the animal toward the Qiblah and recited:
"Indeed, I have turned my face toward Him who created the heavens and the earth..."
➏ Reciting the Opening Supplication (Duʿāʾ al-Tawajjuh) is Sunnah
This duʿāʾ was recited at the time of sacrifice:
(إِنِّى وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِىَ لِلَّذِى فَطَرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ عَلَى مِلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا…)
“Indeed, I have turned my face towards the One who created the heavens and the earth upon the pure religion of Ibrāhīm…”
➐ Eating, Storing, and Giving the Meat in Charity is Sunnah
Narrated by ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
(فَكُلُوا وَادَّخِرُوا وَتَصَدَّقُوا)
“So eat from it, store some, and give some in charity.”
Narrated by Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها:
(كُلُوا وَأَطْعِمُوا وَادَّخِرُوا)
“Eat, feed others, and store some.”
➑ The Qur'an Commands Slaughtering the Animal – Not Sending Money
Allah says:
﴿وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّـهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ ۖ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْبَائِسَ الْفَقِيرَ﴾
[Surah al-Ḥajj: 28]“And that they may mention the name of Allah during the appointed days over what He has provided them of cattle, and then eat of them and feed the poor.”
Similar instruction is repeated in verses 34 and 36 of Surah al-Ḥajj.
❖ There is no instruction to merely send money — the emphasis is on slaughtering the animal.
➒ No Precedent in the Time of the Prophet ﷺ or the Rightly Guided Caliphs
During the Prophet’s ﷺ era and the time of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, poverty and hunger were common. Yet:
❖ Neither the Prophet ﷺ
❖ Nor the Caliphs (Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, ʿAlī رضي الله عنهم)
ever collected money from the Muslims of Madinah to perform sacrifices in other regions.
Conclusion
◈ The Sunnah and etiquettes of Qurbani require that the sacrifice be performed locally.
◈ One should personally partake, eat from it, and share with the needy in the area.
◈ If one has the means, sending meat to other regions as charity is commendable.
◈ But sending only money in lieu of sacrifice does not fulfill the act of Qurbani, nor is it in line with the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrāhīm عليه السلام.
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
