Number of Days for Qurbani: Complete Research in Light of Qur’an and Hadith
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam), Vol. 2, p. 175
Is it proven from the Qur’an and Hadith that Qurbani (sacrifice) can be offered on the fourth day (13th Dhul-Hijjah)? Some scholars state that the Ahadith regarding sacrifice on the fourth day are weak, while it is authentically reported from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما) that Qurbani is only for three days.
Shaykh ‘Abdul Sattar Hammad presented the following evidences for four days of Qurbani:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“All the days of Tashriq are days of slaughter.”
(Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 4, p. 82)
“Qurbani is until two days after Eid al-Adha.”
(Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi 9/297)
This statement, however, is from some Sahabah (like Ibn ‘Umar or ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما) and is not a marfu‘ Hadith from the Prophet ﷺ.
“All the days of Tashriq are days of slaughter, and they are three days after the Day of Nahr.”
(Nayl al-Awtar, Vol. 5, p. 125)
After detailed examination, all chains used to support four days have weaknesses such as disconnected links, unknown narrators, or weak narrators (e.g., Sulaiman ibn Musa not meeting Jubayr ibn Mut‘im, Suwayd ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz being weak, Ahmad ibn ‘Isa being severely criticized, and tadlis by al-Walid ibn Muslim).
Conclusion: All narrations explicitly supporting four days are weak and cannot be graded Sahih or Hasan.
From the Sahabah:
➊ ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما):
“The sacrifice is for two days after the Day of Nahr.”
(Muwatta’ Malik, 2/487, H. 1071 – Authentic)
➋ ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنهما):
“Slaughtering is for two days after the Day of Nahr, and the best is the Day of Nahr.”
(Ahkam al-Qur’an by al-Tahawi, 2/205, H. 1571 – Hasan)
➌ Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه):
“The sacrifice is for two days after it.”
(Ahkam al-Qur’an, 2/602, H. 1576 – Authentic)
➍ ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه):
“The sacrifice is for three days.”
(Ahkam al-Qur’an, 2/205, H. 569 – Hasan)
From the Tabi‘in and Imams:
“The sacrifice is for three days.”
(Al-Muhalla by Ibn Hazm, 7/377, Issue: 982 – Hasan)
Though not found in the printed Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah, its chain is Hasan.
No authentic statement from the Prophet ﷺ proves sacrifice for four days. The stronger view supported by the majority of the Sahabah and scholars is three days only: the Day of Nahr and the two days after it.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam), Vol. 2, p. 175
Question:
Is it proven from the Qur’an and Hadith that Qurbani (sacrifice) can be offered on the fourth day (13th Dhul-Hijjah)? Some scholars state that the Ahadith regarding sacrifice on the fourth day are weak, while it is authentically reported from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما) that Qurbani is only for three days.
Evidence for Four Days of Qurbani
Shaykh ‘Abdul Sattar Hammad presented the following evidences for four days of Qurbani:
1. Hadith of Jubayr ibn Mut‘im (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“All the days of Tashriq are days of slaughter.”
(Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 4, p. 82)
- Although this narration is munqati‘ (disconnected), Imam Ibn Hibban and Imam al-Bayhaqi narrated it in a connected form.
- Shaykh al-Albani graded it Sahih (Sahih al-Jami‘ al-Saghir: 4537).
2. Opinions of Fuqaha:
- Some scholars allowed only two days after Eid al-Adha:
“Qurbani is until two days after Eid al-Adha.”
(Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi 9/297)
This statement, however, is from some Sahabah (like Ibn ‘Umar or ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما) and is not a marfu‘ Hadith from the Prophet ﷺ.
- Al-Shawkani said:
“All the days of Tashriq are days of slaughter, and they are three days after the Day of Nahr.”
(Nayl al-Awtar, Vol. 5, p. 125)
Order of Preference:
- The first day (Eid day) is most virtuous, as the Prophet ﷺ sacrificed then.
- Delaying for the benefit of the poor may be acceptable, but there is no explicit text for it.
- If sacrificing on 13th Dhul-Hijjah, it must be done before sunset.
Chain Analysis of the Hadiths for Four Days
After detailed examination, all chains used to support four days have weaknesses such as disconnected links, unknown narrators, or weak narrators (e.g., Sulaiman ibn Musa not meeting Jubayr ibn Mut‘im, Suwayd ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz being weak, Ahmad ibn ‘Isa being severely criticized, and tadlis by al-Walid ibn Muslim).
Conclusion: All narrations explicitly supporting four days are weak and cannot be graded Sahih or Hasan.
Evidence for Three Days of Qurbani
From the Sahabah:
➊ ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما):
“The sacrifice is for two days after the Day of Nahr.”
(Muwatta’ Malik, 2/487, H. 1071 – Authentic)
➋ ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنهما):
“Slaughtering is for two days after the Day of Nahr, and the best is the Day of Nahr.”
(Ahkam al-Qur’an by al-Tahawi, 2/205, H. 1571 – Hasan)
➌ Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه):
“The sacrifice is for two days after it.”
(Ahkam al-Qur’an, 2/602, H. 1576 – Authentic)
➍ ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه):
“The sacrifice is for three days.”
(Ahkam al-Qur’an, 2/205, H. 569 – Hasan)
From the Tabi‘in and Imams:
- Hasan al-Basri: Three days after Eid al-Adha. (Ahkam al-Qur’an, 2/206, H. 1577 – Authentic)
- ‘Ata’ ibn Abi Rabah: Until the last of the days of Tashriq. (Ahkam al-Qur’an, 2/206, H. 1578 – Hasan)
- ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz: “Eid al-Adha and three days after it.” (Al-Sunan al-Kubra, 9/297 – Hasan)
- Abu Umamah ibn Sahl ibn Hunayf (رضي الله عنه): People used to slaughter until the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. (Al-Sunan al-Kubra, 9/297-298 – Authentic)
Preferred Opinion (Rajih Qawl)
- The statement of ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) and most of the Sahabah is that Qurbani days are three: Eid al-Adha and the following two days (11th and 12th Dhul-Hijjah).
- This is also the opinion of Imam Malik, Imam al-Shafi‘i, and the majority of Ahl al-Hadith scholars.
Additional Note:
- Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
“The sacrifice is for three days.”
(Al-Muhalla by Ibn Hazm, 7/377, Issue: 982 – Hasan)
Though not found in the printed Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah, its chain is Hasan.
- The Prophet ﷺ initially prohibited keeping meat beyond three days, later abrogated — showing that sacrifice was only done within three days.
Final Conclusion:
No authentic statement from the Prophet ﷺ proves sacrifice for four days. The stronger view supported by the majority of the Sahabah and scholars is three days only: the Day of Nahr and the two days after it.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
