1. What are the times allowed to slaughter an animal for Qurban? 

The allowable period for the performance of Qurban begins when the Khatib (Iman) leaves the pulpit after the sermon on Eidul Adha in the morning of the 10th of Zulhijjah till the sun sets on the 13th of Zulhijjah of the Hijri calendar. Hence there are 4 days for the performance of the ritual slaughter of Qurban. Any slaughter of an animal outside these 4 days is not Qurban. (Mugniyulmuhtaj 4:331)

The Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam says in a hadith narrated by Muslim and al-Bukhari: “Those who have slaughtered their Qurban before the prayers of Eidul Adha, have to make a substitute slaughter. And for those who have not slaughtered till I have prayed,let him begin his slaughter with the name of Allah.”

Most major jurists agree to the sayings of Ali r.a as cited by Imam Nawawi in his Syarah Muslim : “The days to slaughter are the day of Udhiyah (Eidul Adha) and the three days after it.”

2. Which is better: a male or female animal for Qurban? 

Both genders are acceptable for Qurban. Imam Syafie’ prefers the male.

1)MALE IS WHAT THE PROPHET GAVE.

2)For a free ranging animal the possibility of a female animal being pregnant is ever present.

3)AND MALE MEAT IS MORE TASTIER . (Mugniyul muhtaj4:328)

3. Can a single cow be shared by a number of persons to perform the Qurban? 

A cow or a camel can be shared by 7 persons or households as narrated by Muslim: “During Hajj, Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam exhorted us to share 7 persons to camel or a cow.” (Mugniyul muhtaj 4:328)

4. Which is better: a lamb/goat or one seventh of a cow for Qurban? 

“It is not their meat or their blood that reaches Allah: it is your piety that reaches Him.” Al-Hajj: 37

Fundamentally it is that consciousness of God in fulfilling the acts of Qurban that will delineate the worth of one’s Qurban. Naturally, the sacrificial animal chosen should reflect this – hence the prohibition of choosing too thin of an animal or significantly impaired animal. Beyond this a muslim is left too his discretion (which then of course will be dictated by his state of iman) to choose the kind of animal for his Qurban. As a guide the jurists agreed that a healthy animal that will provide more meat should be chosen. IN SHAFI’I SCHOOL, FIRST COMES CAMEL THEN COW THEN LAMB THEN GOAT. AND ONE LAMB/GOAT IS BETTER THAN A PORTION OF A COW BECAUSE OF MORE BLOOD FLOW AND LAMB/GOAT MEAT IS MORE TASTIER AND ITS THE ANIMAL GIVEN BY PROPHET PBUH. (Mugniyul muhtaj 4:329)

5. Can a person perform Qurban with a single goat for his whole family? 

Sharing of an animal for the whole family has been the practice of the prophet and his companions.

In a hadith narrated by Ibnu Majahand Tirmidzi : “ During the times of the Prophet, Qurban by sacrificing a male sheep was performed by a person for his whole family. They eat from it, and share it till others are satisfied and thus you see the practice as it is now.” IT’S PERMISSABLE FOR A PERSON TO CARRY OUT THIS IBADAH AND INCLUDES HIS FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE REWARD. BUT THE REWARD OF UDHIYAH WILL BE FOR THE DOER ONLY AND FAMILY MEMBERS WILL GET REWARD OF SADAQAH. (Mugniyul muhtaj 4:327)

IN A HOUSEHOLD UPON FEW MEMBERS QURBAN HAS BECOME SUNNAH MUAKKADAH AND IF ONE PERSON FROM THAT FAMILY DOES THAT IBADAH BY GIVING ONE SHEEP, THE RESPONSIBILITIES ON OTHERS WILL BE REMOVED. AND ONLY DOER WILL GET THE REWARD. (I’anatut talibeen 2:517)

As-Syaukani in Al-Raudlah 2:210 says: “The command to perform Qurban indicates it is mandatory. This command is directed to the head of the family as it is mandatory for him to fulfill it for each member of the family. And for those without a family, or a family of which he is responsible, then the Qurban will be performed for himself.”

6. Can a person share with his friend to buy a goat for Qurban? 

The jurists have concurred that a goat/sheep can ONLY represent the Qurban for a single person: for himself or his family of which he is the head of that family. It is virtuous for two friends to share the expenses to buy a goat as a sacrificial animal for Qurban. But then, they have to decide for whom the Qurban should be performed. The Sunnah is specific as to the number of persons that can share a particular animal for Qurban. BOTH CAN BE PARTNERS IN THE REWARD BEFORE SACRIFICE After ONLY ONE GET THE REWARD OF UDHIYAH AND THE OTHER WILL GET REWARD OF SADAQAH.(Mugniyulmuhtaj 4:329)

7. Is a person who is travelling required to perform Qurban? 

Performing Qurban is incumbent on all Muslims even though they are travelling as practised by the Prophet when he slaughtered a cow as Qurban for his wives in Mina (narrated by Bukhari and Muslim). (Mugniyul muhtaj 4:326)