Who is Required to Perform Qurbani?
Every adult Muslim, male or female, who owns 613.35 grams of silver or its equivalent in money, personal ornaments, stock-in-trade or any other form of wealth which is surplus to his basic needs, is under an obligation to offer a Qurbani. Each adult member of a family who owns the above mentioned amount must perform his own Qurbani separately. If the husband owns the required quantity, but the wife does not, the Qurbani obligatory on the husband only and vice-versa. If both of them have the prescribed amount of wealth, both should perform Qurbani separately.
If the adult children live with their parents, Qurbani is obligatory on each one of them possessing the prescribed amount. The Qurbani offered by a husband for himself does not fulfil the obligation of his wife, nor can the Qurbani offered by a father discharge his son or daughter from their obligation. Each one of them should care for his own.
However, if a husband or a father, apart from offering his own Qurbani, gives another Qurbani on behalf of his wife or his son, he can do so with their permission.
Disqualifying defects
Sacrifice of an animal will not be in order if it is one eyed, or blind, or has lost one third or more of its eyesight, or one third or more of its tail, or its ear has been cut off, or it is lame, or its bones have no marrow, or it has no ears by birth or its horns have been broken from their roots, or it has no teeth at all. If the number of teeth intact exceeds the lost ones, it is permissible. If it has no horns by birth, or has less than one third broken horns, it is permissible.
Distribution of meat
One should eat the meat of the sacrifice, give it to relations and friends, (to non-Muslims also) and also to the poor in charity. One third should be given in charity, but if it be less it will not be a sin.
Injunctions on the use of skin
It is not permissible to give a portion of meat or the skin of the slaughtered animal as wages. They should instead be given to the needy in charity. Even the rope and cover of the sacrificed animal should be given away as charity.
Intention
It is commendable that one who intends to offer a sacrifice should refrain from having a hair cut, a shave, and pruning of nails, from the 1st of Zil-Hijjah (upto the time he has performed the sacrifice).
Intention In the first instance, one who proposes to offer sacrifice must make an intention to that effect.
Method of Sacrifice
The animal for slaughter should be laid on its left side facing Kaabah and its throat cut open with a sharp knife, and its blood allowed to drain. In the case of a camel, it should be allowed to remain standing after its left fore leg has been stringed. A sharp spear should then be thrust in its breast and on both sides of its neck, and the blood allowed to drain. 1. Qurbani / Sacrifice is wajib on every muslim with the ability to do it. Holy Prophet SWA said, 'Who ever has the ability and strength to sacrifice and does not do it should not come to the Muslim's Eidgah (a place where Eid prayers are offered)'.
2. Holy Prophet SAW said, 'Whoever sighted the moon of Zilhajj and intends to offer sacrifice should not clip/ trim his hair And nails'. This is also valid for those who cannot offer sacrifice. 3. Sacrifice/ qurbani can be offered in any of three days of Ayyam-e-Tashreeq of Zilhajj (10th, 11th, 12th)
4. Goat, sheep etc are sacrificed by an individual. Cows, bulls however, will have seven and camel has ten people sharing the sacrifice. The meat of the animal will be distributed in 7 and 10 equal shares respectively.
5. Holy Prophet (SAW) advised Muslim Ummah to spend eagerly for the purpose because the amount spent is highly valued by Allah. While selecting the animal one should choose healthy, well-bred animals. The slaughter of ill, lame, blind, weak and too young animals will not be valid. Holy Prophet (SAW) said:
"Slaughter big and healthy animals, they will be your conveyance over the Pull Sirat (the Bridge of Sirat)" 6. It is obligatory to slaughter animals with the intention of sacrifice. Slaughter without this intention will not suffice-moreover, if the animal is slaughtered before the namaz of Eid then one has to repeat it. Hence giving an equal amount for charity in any good cause will not suffice.
7. If an organization makes an effort for combined sacrifice then giving them money for sacrifice will be all right. Likewise getting the sacrifice done by a relative or friend is correct.
8. One can offer sacrifice on behalf of a relative, for instance a man on behalf of his wife. It can also be offered for the deceased. Holy Prophet (SAW) offered sacrifice of a ram on behalf of the Muslim Ummah.
9. The eating and giving of the meat (of the animal sacrificed) to poor is proved by the Quran.
"…eat thereof, and feed the poor who does not ask (men), an dthe beggar who asks (men)." (Surah Al-Hajj: 36) Although making three portions of the meat is preferred-one for the poor, one for self and another for relatives; but if one has a big family then all the meat can be consumed. Likewise if you are well off and so are your relatives then all the meat can be distributed amongst the poor. 10. One should recite takbeer while going to and coming from the eidgah.
11. Holy Prophet (SAW) did not use to eat anything before the namaz of eid and sacrifice.
12. Slaughtering/offering sacrifice in the eidgah is proved by the sunnah.
13. It is more liked to slaughter the animal by self but it is acceptable to ask others to do it.
14. While slaughtering, the animal should be made to face the qibla and the knife should be sharp edged.
15. It is not right to pay the butcher with the sacrificial meat.
16. The hide of the animal can be utilized for any deed of Sadqah Jareah.
17. The masnoon dua of Qurbani is
