Is It Better to Sacrifice on the First Day or Are All Three Days Equal?
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam), Vol. 2, p. 175
Among the three days of Eid al-Adha, is offering the sacrifice on the first day more virtuous, or is the reward equal on all days?
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, on the Day of Eid al-Adha, said:
“Today we will first offer the prayer, then perform the sacrifices.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of the Two Eids, Chapter: The Sunnah of Eid for the People of Islam, Hadith 951; Sahih Muslim, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter 1, Hadith 1961)
From this noble Hadith, it is clear that the Prophet ﷺ performed his sacrifice on the first day (10th Dhul-Hijjah). Therefore, among the three days of Eid al-Adha, the first day is the most virtuous and preferred for sacrifice.
Sacrificing on the remaining two days — 11th and 12th Dhul-Hijjah — is also valid and rewarding. However, the virtue of the first day remains greater.
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) said:
“After the Day of Nahr, there are two days for sacrifice, and the best sacrifice is on the Day of Nahr (first day).”
◈ All three days (10th, 11th, 12th Dhul-Hijjah) are valid for Qurbani and are rewarding.
◈ The first day (10th Dhul-Hijjah) is the most virtuous and carries the highest reward.
◈ This preference is based on the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the guidance of the Companions.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam), Vol. 2, p. 175
Question:
Among the three days of Eid al-Adha, is offering the sacrifice on the first day more virtuous, or is the reward equal on all days?
Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, on the Day of Eid al-Adha, said:
“Today we will first offer the prayer, then perform the sacrifices.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of the Two Eids, Chapter: The Sunnah of Eid for the People of Islam, Hadith 951; Sahih Muslim, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter 1, Hadith 1961)
From this noble Hadith, it is clear that the Prophet ﷺ performed his sacrifice on the first day (10th Dhul-Hijjah). Therefore, among the three days of Eid al-Adha, the first day is the most virtuous and preferred for sacrifice.
Other Days
Sacrificing on the remaining two days — 11th and 12th Dhul-Hijjah — is also valid and rewarding. However, the virtue of the first day remains greater.
Opinion of the Companions
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) said:
“After the Day of Nahr, there are two days for sacrifice, and the best sacrifice is on the Day of Nahr (first day).”
Summary:
◈ All three days (10th, 11th, 12th Dhul-Hijjah) are valid for Qurbani and are rewarding.
◈ The first day (10th Dhul-Hijjah) is the most virtuous and carries the highest reward.
◈ This preference is based on the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the guidance of the Companions.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
