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"It is the Sunnah of your father Ibrahim (AS). For every hair of the Qurbani you receive a reward from Allah (SWT)."
The Prophet (PBUH) - (Hadith - Trimidhi)
Qurbani is a sacred act of worship that’s performed during the days of Eid ul-Adha to help feed the hungry and commemorate the Prophet Ibrahim (AS). It’s a sacrifice of an animal that shows devotion to Allah (SWT) and remembers Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) willingness to sacrifice his only son. The word Qurbani showcases this because it means sacrifice and allows able Muslims to show submission to Allah (SWT), earn reward and save countless lives facing devastation and hunger.
Giving Qurbani can bring multiple benefits to Muslims, whether a believer performs the sacrifice themselves or they donate to a charitable organisation, like UKIM, to handle it for them. The act of worship is a way for Muslims to get closer to Allah (SWT) because it shows Him their obedience and piety. This is highly valued by Allah (SWT) and so earns believers rewards for carrying out the worship, which is shown in the Quran:
“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good.” [22:37]
Alongside the spiritual benefits of Qurbani, the worship makes up a huge part of the Eid ul-Adha celebrations. This means that the act brings the ummah together in worship and spreads the joy of Eid to those in desperate need. Qurbani does this by providing fresh, healthy meat to those who cannot afford to put food on their tables to nourish their bodies, give them joy and save their lives. Some of these vulnerable families only get to eat meat once a year on Eid ul-Adha due to the sacrifice and it’s seen as a luxury for them to have it.
So, is Qurbani farz? When an act in Islam is farz, this means that it’s compulsory for Muslims to do and is shown as evidence in the Quran or hadith. Across all schools of thought in Islam, Qurbani isn’t seen as farz because there is no evidence to show that it’s a definite compulsory act. However, the Hanafi school determines this act of worship as wajib, which is a compulsory indirect obligation for Muslims to do. Wajib acts are still mandatory, but they just don’t have definite evidence to show it’s mandatory.
The other schools determine Qurbani as a very highly encouraged act to do because it’s Sunnah Muakkadah. This means that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) regularly carried out this act of worship during Eid and encouraged his followers to do the same. Doing Qurbani means that you follow in his footsteps and, no matter which school you follow, it’s an act that’s very highly encouraged for all able believers to do.
When it comes to who is eligible for Qurbani, there are set Islamic regulations that outline when a Muslim is able to do the ritual. These are similar to the Zakat rules and is a highly encouraged act of worship for Muslims who meet the following requirements:
Yes! You can give Qurbani for the deceased if you wish to do so. This isn’t obligatory, but Muslims can include loved ones who have passed away into their sacrifice to honour them, keep their memory alive and give them rewards in the Hereafter.
You can also give Qurbani on behalf of family members, including the whole household, if you would like to. However, with this, everyone that meets the criteria to do the sacrifice must give Qurbani themselves. So, to do it for the household, it’s best to donate toward a larger animal that equals up to 7 shares and get all eligible family members to contribute toward a share to fulfil the obligation correctly.
Halal animals that are eligible for Qurbani are as follows:
Animals for Qurbani must also be healthy and must not:
Many Muslims wonder, “Do you have to give Qurbani for a child?” This is because certain Islamic duties include every Muslim to partake. However, Qurbani is only an act that should be given by adult Muslims who meet the eligibility criteria. So, you don’t have to give Qurbani for a child if you don’t want to, as long as every eligible believer in your household has contributed to the sacrifice then the duty is fulfilled. However, if you want to, you can include your children in the sacrifice by mentioning them or even donating a whole large animal to include everyone eligible and children in your household.
Qurbani should be given within a specific timeframe for it to be valid. This is from the first day of Eid ul-Adha on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah once the Eid prayer has finished, all the way until the sun sets on the 12th of Dhul Hijjah. On each day of Eid, Qurbani should only take place after the Eid Salah (prayers).
This year, Qurbani in the UK is expected to take place on or near 26 or 27 May, depending on the sighting of the moon. It is important to make the necessary arrangements for your Qurbani to be offered at the correct time. Give your Qurbani in 2026 to UKIM and help feed those going through poverty this year.
Qurbani is per person and not family. This is because it’s an act of worship that all able Muslims are highly encouraged to do, meaning they have to meet the regulations to give Qurbani. Due to this, every able believer in your family must give Qurbani themselves, even if you decide to do it as family with one large animal. A large animal is equal to 7 shares, so all eligible people in your household can purchase one share each to fulfil their duty.
When it comes to which animal is best for Qurbani, it’s all dependent on the animal you want to contribute to. There is no specific best animal to do the sacrifice on, as long as they meet the regulations and are one of the eligible animals of sheep, goat, cow, buffalo or camel. You can either donate toward a whole small animal, like a sheep or goat, or purchase a one of the 7 shares of a larger animal, like a cow, buffalo or camel – it’s up to you!
Each Qurbani animal has a set number of shares, which means every Muslim only needs to donate to one share to fulfil their obligation. The shares are as follows:
The cost of Qurbani donations easily varies between countries and the type of animal you choose. This means that there is no set price for the sacrifice. You can choose to donate to animals in different regions to help feed the vulnerable and nourish them to save their lives. So, you can give Qurbani to remote areas with very little access to resources, which will cost more than areas with more resources. On top of this, the smaller animals will cost more than buying a share of a larger animal.
If you're unsure, you can contact us regarding Qurbani prices closer to the time.
So, how much is Qurbani per person? Again, there is no set cost because it depends on the region you want to help and the type of animal you give. With UKIM, you can give Qurbani to those in need across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, including donations that feed the most needy. The most affordable option is one share in a larger animal, which in some regions, such as Pakistan is around £70, and a full small animal costing £150. However, you can choose to give to areas with little resources who are most in need, such as Palestine, which increases the cost of each animal option but makes the most impact to countless lives, giving them the chance to survive.
There is no set amount of Qurbani that you should give. You just need to give within your means to help those facing hunger, poverty and devastation. For your Qurbani donation, you can choose to give a whole small animal, one share out of 7 for a large animal and one whole large animal – it’s completely up to you. Give what you can and provide nutrition and health to countless lives.
So, what is a Prophetic Qurbani? This refers to an additional Qurbani given on behalf of the ummah who cannot afford to give their own sacrifice. It’s a separate donation to your own sacrifice and helps those who cannot do Qurbani earn rewards from Allah (SWT) and fulfil their duty through your kindness. It is named the Prophetic Qurbani because it’s what the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to do. He always gave a second Qurbani after his own to help his ummah who couldn’t do the sacrifice and carry out this form of worship. He did it on behalf of them and, therefore, helped even more people in need.
Qurbani must be performed at the prescribed time, which begins after Eid prayer on the first day of Eid and lasts until the third day. Valid sacrifices are made during the 10th, 11th, or 12th day of Dhul Hijjah.
Yes. Many Muslims in the UK choose to give their Qurbani online. By donating your Qurbani to UK Islamic Mission, you can give the less fortunate Muslims the joy of Eid and a chance to have a nutritious meal.
Those who give Qurbani should abstain from cutting their nails and hair in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah until the slaughter has been done. According to a hadith:
“When the 10 days (of Dhul Hijjah) commence, and a person has a sacrificial animal, which he intends to slaughter, then let him not cut his hair or pare his nails.” (Muslim)
Eid ul-Adha is the celebration that marks the completion of the Hajj pilgrimage. The festival is a time not just for celebration but also for thankfulness, remembrance, and worship. Through the act of Qurbani, believers extend their generosity and compassion to those in need around the world.
Eid ul-Adha 2026 is expected to fall on or around 26 or 27May. The actual dates will be determined by moon sighting nearer the time, so it’s best to ask your local Imam if you need more information about Eid ul-Adha dates or moonsighting.
Different countries celebrate Eid ul-Adha according to their customs and traditions. Eid ul-Adha is usually a three-day event filled with festivities, prayers, and worship. After morning prayers and Qurbani, friends and family wish each other Eid Mubarak and exchange gifts. The believers dress in smart and traditional clothes to celebrate the day.
Give your Qurbani to UKIM and help provide vital food to vulnerable individuals across the world this Eid.
Support Individuals In Need Around The World
"It is the Sunnah of your father Ibrahim (AS). For every hair of the Qurbani you receive a reward from Allah (SWT)."
The Prophet (PBUH) - (Hadith - Trimidhi)
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