❖ Is Qurbani Permissible Until the 12th or 13th of Dhul-Hijjah?
Qur'an and Hadith-Based Verdict
Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Volume 1, Page 620
❖ Question:
Some people hold that Qurbani is only permissible up to the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah, limiting the days of sacrifice to three. What is the correct ruling in light of the Qur'an and Hadith?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
◈ Agreement on the Start of Qurbani
There is unanimous agreement among the Ummah that a valid Qurbani is one that is performed after the Eid prayer. If an animal is sacrificed before the Eid prayer, it is not counted as Qurbani. This is explicitly mentioned in authentic Hadiths:
❖ Hadith Evidences
➊ Ḥadīth of Anas رضي الله عنه:
عن أنس عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم:
من ذبح قبل الصلاة فليعد.
“Whoever sacrifices before the Eid prayer should repeat the sacrifice.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
➋ Ḥadīth of Jundub رضي الله عنه:
عن جندب بن سفيان قال:
شهدت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم النحر، فقال: من ذبح قبل الصلاة فليعد مكانها أخرى.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Vol. 2, p. 834)
◈ Scholarly Differences on the End of Qurbani Days
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله mentioned five scholarly opinions on this matter:
❖ The Five Views:
① First Opinion:
Qurbani is permissible from 10th to 13th Dhul-Hijjah.
This view is reported from ʿAlī رضي الله عنه and others.
② Second Opinion:
Qurbani is allowed only until the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah.
This is the view of Imām Aḥmad, Imām Mālik, Imām Abū Ḥanīfah, and some companions like Ibn ʿUmar and Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهم.
③ Third Opinion:
Qurbani is valid only on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah.
This is the view of Imām Ibn Sīrīn.
④ Fourth Opinion:
For the residents of urban areas, Qurbani is valid only on the 10th, while for the residents of Minā, it is allowed up to the 12th.
This is the position of Saʿīd bin Jubayr and Jābir bin Zayd.
⑤ Fifth Opinion:
According to Imām Ibn Ḥazm, Qurbani is valid until the end of Dhul-Hijjah, but this view is weak due to its basis on a Mursal narration, which is not accepted as authoritative by Hadith scholars.
❖ Refutation of the Weaker Opinions
✿ Third Opinion (Only 10th Dhul-Hijjah):
This contradicts the Qur'an, as the term Ayyām Maʿlūmāt (known days) refers to multiple days, not just one.
✿ Fourth Opinion (Division between Minā and Cities):
There is no Shari'ah-based evidence supporting this distinction.
✿ Fifth Opinion (Till end of Dhul-Hijjah):
It is based on a Mursal narration, which is not acceptable as a standalone proof.
❖ Analysis of the Second Opinion (Until 12th Dhul-Hijjah)
This view is supported by Hanafis and Mālikīs, who cite certain Athar (reports), such as:
✿ A report from ʿAlī رضي الله عنه that Qurbani is for three days — but this chain is weak.
✿ A report from ʿUmar رضي الله عنه — but it includes unknown narrators.
✿ Reports from Ibn ʿAbbās and Ibn ʿUmar — but again, the chains are weak.
Even the renowned Hanafi Hadith expert Ḥāfiẓ al-Zaylaʿī declared these narrations to be “Gharīb Jiddan” (very rare/weak).
❖ Stronger View: Qurbani Until 13th Dhul-Hijjah
This is the view of the majority of scholars and is supported by Hadiths.
➊ Hadith of Jubayr bin Muṭʿim رضي الله عنه:
قال رسول الله ﷺ:
كل فجاج منى منحر، وكل أيام التشريق ذبح.
(Mawārid al-Ẓamān ilā Zawā’id Ibn Ḥibbān, p. 249)
Translation:
“The entire area of Minā is a place of sacrifice, and all the Days of Tashrīq are days of slaughter.”
This Hadith has been authenticated by Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar, Imām al-Shawkānī, and other Hadith scholars.➋ Scholarly Support for 13th Dhul-Hijjah:
Scholars and companions supporting this view include:
✔ ʿAlī, Ibn ʿAbbās, Jubayr bin Muṭʿim رضي الله عنهم
✔ Imām Ḥasan al-Baṣrī, ʿAṭā’, al-Awzāʿī, al-Shāfiʿī, Ibn al-Mundhir
✔ Imām al-Nawawī, Ibn Taymiyyah رحمهم الله
➌ Hadith on Days of Eating and Drinking:
أيام التشريق أيام أكل وشرب.
(Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī, Vol. 2, p. 63)
Translation:
“The Days of Tashrīq are days of eating and drinking.”
This also indicates that the days for sacrifice continue until the end of the Days of Tashrīq.➍ Qur'anic Evidence:
﴿وَيَذكُرُوا اسمَ اللَّهِ في أَيّامٍ مَعلُومَاتٍ…﴾
(Surah al-Ḥajj: 28)
Translation:
“And mention the name of Allah during the known days over the animals He has provided…”
The use of “Ayyām” (days) in plural form indicates multiple days, not a single day.
Final Verdict:
Based on the Qur'an, authentic Hadith, and the views of the majority of scholars, the correct and stronger opinion is:
Qurbani is valid on the following four days:
❀ 10th Dhul-Hijjah (Yawm al-Naḥr)
❀ 11th Dhul-Hijjah
❀ 12th Dhul-Hijjah
❀ 13th Dhul-Hijjah (until sunset)
After sunset on the 13th, sacrifice is no longer valid.
Ruling:
Qurbani performed anytime before sunset on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah is valid and counted as proper Udhiyyah. It is not an innovation (bidʿah).
Wa-Allāhu Aʿlam bi-ṣ-Ṣawāb.
