Who Is Eligible For Qurbani?
Eid al-Adha, or Qurbani, is a global Islamic holiday. It is also known as the Festival of Sacrifice. Muslims worldwide sacrifice cows, goats, and lambs during this festival. They show their trust in Allah SWT by offering this sacrifice.
Islam places a high value on sacrifice as a form of worship. There is no denying that Qurbani is a crucial component of Eid-ul-Azha. But Who Is Eligible For Qurbani among all those Muslims? This blog discusses Qurbani eligibility for Muslims.
Eligibility For Qurbani
There are some Qurbani requirements. Eligibility is one of them. Muslims who can afford it must perform Qurbani. It is open to anybody who can afford a sacrificed animal. The following are the eligibility criteria for Qurbani:
- A Muslim who is sane and has reached the age of puberty.
- The person must be financially capable. They have enough wealth to perform Qurbani after fulfilling their basic needs and paying off their debts.
- The person must be in possession of the nisab amount of wealth. Nisab is a certain minimum amount of wealth that is required for donating Zakat. It is determined by the current value of silver.
Qurbani is not Farz but it is Sunnah mu’akkadah. This means Prophet Muhammad (SAW) highly recommended this for all able-bodied Muslims. Except for some exceptions, Muslims should not miss this significant sacrifice. It brings an immense amount of blessing from Allah (SWT).
Exceptions for Qurbani Eligibility
In the context of the Qurbani, there are also several important exceptions. The list of exception people for Eid ul Adha Qurbani are:
- Low-income families
- Women-led families
- Disabled/elderly families
- Children under fives
- Pregnant women
- Breastfeeding mothers
- Families who can’t visit the market
You should offer Qurbani if you are eligible to pay Zakat. To eliminate any confusion, you should visit your local imam. He can assist you if you have any questions or concerns about your ability for Qurbani.
When Qurbani Should Perform?
The time for offering Qurbani begins at sunrise following the Eid-ul-Adha prayers. It is held on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah and ends at sunset on the 12th. The act of Qurbani should be carried out as soon as the Eid-ul-Adha prayers are finished.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has said,
"We perform the prayers first on the day of Eid." After that, we perform our Qurbani at home. Whoever performs those deeds has thereby complied with our sunnah. And for those who were killed before it, the meat was consumed for the family and not as a Qurbani ritual.” - Sahih Al-BukhariCriteria For Animals
Qurbani involves sacrificing a specified age and size animal to feed the poor. The sort of animal slaughtered determines its age and size. A sheep or goat must be at least one year old, while a cow or bull must be two. Animals should be healthy and sacrificed humanely.
So, who is eligible for Qurbani? Simply, Muslims who are eligible for Zakat are also eligible for Qurbani.
Qurbani is a religious duty for the financially able. It is not Farz but suggested for those who can afford it. The animal sacrificed should be humane and of Islamic age and size. Qurbani is a sign of trust and devotion to Allah (SWT). It should be done with reverence.
