How to Give Qurbani\/Udhiyah

All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, we seek His help, and we seek His forgiveness. We send peace and blessings upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad, upon his family, his companions, and all those who follow his way until the Last Day.

My dear brothers and sisters, today we are talking about a beautiful act of worship during the blessed days of Dhul Hijjah: Qurbani, also known as Udhiyah.

Qurbani is not just the slaughtering of an animal. It is an act of obedience, sacrifice, gratitude, and closeness to Allah سبحانه وتعالى.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

“So pray to your Lord and sacrifice.”

— Surah Al-Kawthar

And Allah tells us about the story of Ibrahim and his son Ismail — a story of complete submission to Allah. When Ibrahim عليه السلام was willing to sacrifice what he loved most for the sake of Allah, Allah replaced that sacrifice with a ram. And from that moment, this act became a symbol of devotion for the believers.

So how do we properly give Qurbani?

1. Have the Correct Intention

Everything begins with sincerity.

The Prophet Muhammad taught us that actions are judged by intentions. Your Qurbani should not be done just because everyone else is doing it, or because it is cultural. It should be done seeking the pleasure of Allah alone.

Before giving Qurbani, remind yourself:

I am doing this to obey Allah.

I am following the Sunnah of Ibrahim عليه السلام.

I am grateful for Allah’s blessings.

2. Know Who Should Give Qurbani

Qurbani is for the Muslim who is financially able.

If Allah has blessed you with enough wealth beyond your basic needs, then this is a great opportunity to worship Him. Some scholars consider it highly recommended, while others say it is obligatory for those who can afford it.

Do not think: “It’s too expensive.”

Instead think:

“Allah gave me the ability, so I want to give back for His sake.”

3. Choose the Correct Animal

The animals for Qurbani include:

Sheep

Goats

Cows

Camels

The animal must be healthy and free from major defects. It should not be blind, severely sick, extremely weak, or injured.

Allah deserves our best.

Sometimes people try to find the cheapest animal no matter the condition. But remember — this is an act of worship. Give Allah something good.

4. Give It During the Correct Time

Qurbani begins after the Eid prayer on the Day of Eid al-Adha and continues through the days of Tashreeq.

If someone sacrifices before the Eid prayer, it does not count as Qurbani.

The Prophet Muhammad said that whoever slaughtered before the prayer, then it was only meat for their family — not Qurbani.

So timing matters.

5. Mention the Name of Allah

When the animal is sacrificed, the name of Allah should be mentioned by saying:

“Bismillah, Allahu Akbar.”

This reminds us that life belongs to Allah and everything we have comes from Him.

6. Share the Meat

One of the beauties of Qurbani is generosity.

Traditionally, the meat can be divided into portions:

One part for your family

One part for relatives and friends

One part for the poor and needy

This is a time of feeding others, helping the struggling, and spreading joy in the community.

There are families around the world who may only eat meat once a year because of Qurbani. Think about that reward.

7. Remember the Spirit of Sacrifice

My dear brothers and sisters, Allah does not need the blood or the meat.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Neither their meat nor their blood reaches Allah, but what reaches Him is your piety.”

— Surah Al-Hajj

What reaches Allah is your sincerity.

Your taqwa.

Your obedience.

Your willingness to sacrifice for Him.

Real Qurbani is not only sacrificing an animal.

It is sacrificing sins.

Sacrificing laziness.

Sacrificing bad habits.

Sacrificing the things that distance us from Allah.

As we enter these blessed days of Dhul Hijjah, let us ask ourselves:

What am I willing to sacrifice to get closer to Allah?

Maybe it is leaving a sin.

Maybe it is fixing our prayers.

Maybe it is forgiving someone.

Maybe it is becoming a better Muslim.

May Allah accept our Qurbani, our worship, our duas, and our sacrifices. May He allow us to follow the example of Ibrahim عليه السلام and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad.

Ameen.