Abdullah Ibn ’Abbas (ra) related that the Prophet ﷺ said, "Good deeds performed on other days are not superior to those performed on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijjah)."

The Companions (ra) inquired, "Not even Jihad?" He replied, "Not even Jihad, except for that person who goes out putting himself and his wealth in danger and does not return with anything." (Bukhari)

The Prophet ﷺ said, “There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so recite a great deal of tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed during them.” [Ahmad]

Abu Hurairah relates that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, “There are no days more loved to Allah for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhul Hijja. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of power. [i.e., Lailatul Qadr].” [Related by at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and al-Baihaqi]

Islamic calendar comprises of 12 different months, each of them having its own significance; “Dhul-hijjah” being the last of them and perhaps the most important of them as well, because it offers Muslims all around the world the honor of “Hajj”, followed by “Eid-al-Adhaa”.

The two of these are considered to be the most revered of religious occasions (celebrations, in fact) for Muslims. This post serves to furnish you with some basic information about both “Hajj” as well as “Eid-al-Adhaa”.For more details please visit the site below:

http://www.quranreading.com/blog/islam-and-muslims/hajj-and-eid-al-adha…

[qs:108:2]

Zayd lbn Arqam (RA) relates that the Companions (ra) asked, "O Rasulullah! (Saw) What is Qurbani?" He replied, "It is the sunnah of your father lbraheem (as)." They asked again, "What benefit do we get from it?" He answered, "A reward for every hair (of the sacrificed animal)." "And (what reward is there for animals with) wool, 0 Rasoolullah (Saw)?" they asked. "A reward", he said, "for every fibre of the wool.", (Ibne Majah)

Aishah (ra) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (Saw) said, "There is nothing dearer to Allah during the days of Qurbani than the sacrificing of animals. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Judgement with its horns, hair, and hooves (to be weighed). The sacrifice is accepted by Allah before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore sacrifice with an open and happy heart" (Tirmidhi, p. 275, Vol.1).

Qurbani is wajib upon every Muslim who is of sound mind, mature (who has reached the age of puberty), muqeem (i.e. he is not a Shar'ee traveler) and possesses 612.36grams of silver or wealth equivalent to that value which is in excess of one's aslee (basic) needs. It is not necessary that this amount be in one's possession for a complete lunar year. It's possession during the three days of Qurbani will make Qurbani obligatory.

The Time of Qurbani (Udhiyyah)

Qurbani is only valid during three days of Dhul Hijjah, 10th, 11th, and 12th. Qurbani cannot be performed on any other day of the year

Although Qurbani is permissible on each of the three days, the first day (10th of Dhul Hijjah) is the most preferable and desired day

Qurbani is not allowed before Eid Salah

Qurbani can be performed during night time. However, it is preferable to perform it during the daytime.

Distribution of the Meat

If an animal is sacrificed on behalf of more than one person, like a cow or camel, its meat should be distributed equally among its owners by weighing the meat strictly and not at random or by mere guess. Even if all the partners agree on its distribution without weighing, it is still not permissible according to Shariah

However, if the actual weighing is not practicable due to some reason, and all the partners agree to distribute the meat without weighing, distribution by guess can be done with the condition that each share necessarily contains either a leg of the animal or some quantity of its liver

Although the person offering a Qurbani can keep all its meat for his own use, yet, it is preferable to distribute one-third among the poor, another one-third among his relatives and then, keep the rest for his personal consumption

All parts of the sacrificed animal can be used for personal benefit, but none can be sold, nor can be given to the butcher as a part of his wages. If somebody has sold the meat of the animal or its skin, he must give the accrued price as Sadaqah to a poor man who can receive Zakah

No Alternative for Qurbani

Some people think that instead of offering a ritual slaughter (Qurbani) they should give its amount to some poor people as charity. This attitude is totally wrong. Actually, there are different forms of worship obligatory on Muslims. Each one of them has its own importance and none of them can stand for the other. It is not permissible for a Muslim to perform Salah instead of fasting in Ramadhan, nor is it permissible for him to give some charity instead of observing the obligatory Salah. Similarly, Qurbani is an independent form of worship and this obligation cannot be discharged by spending money in charity.

However, if an individual, out of ignorance or negligence, could not offer it on the three prescribed days (10th, 11th and 12th of Dhu’l Hijjah) then, in that case only, he can give the price of a ritual slaughter (Udhiyyah) as Sadaqah to those entitled to receive Zakah. But during the days of Udhiyyah, no Sadaqa can discharge the obligation.

More info here

Question:

Last year I cut my hair on the 5th day of Dhul Hijja and then I came to know that we should not cut our hair if we intend to do Qurbānī. So was my qurbānī accepted or not?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

It is desirable for the one who will be sacrificing an animal for qurbānī to avoid cutting their hair or nails until after the animal is slaughtered. Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam said:

“When the ten days (of Dhul Hijjah) begin and a person has an animal for sacrifice which he intends to slaughter, then let him not cut his hair or trim his nails.” (Muslim)

Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam said in another Hadith:

“Whoever has an animal for slaughtering, once the crescent of Dhul Hijjah has been declared he should not cut his hair or trim his nails until he has sacrificed (the animal)” (Muslim)

It is a recommended act due to the Hadīth. However, if one did cut his hair and/or nails during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah before sacrificing, it will not affect the validity of making qurbānī.

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم: دخل العشر و عنده اضحية يريد ان يضحى, فلا ياخذن شعرا ولا يقلمن ظفرا

(Saīih Muslim, 2/160, Qadīmi Kutub Khāna)

وحدثنى عبيد الله بن معاذ العنبرى حدثنا أبى حدثنا محمد بن عمرو الليثى عن عمر بن مسلم بن عمار بن أكيمة الليثى قال سمعت سعيد بن المسيب يقول سمعت أم سلمة زوج النبى -صلى الله عليه وسلم- تقول قال رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « من كان له ذبح يذبحه فإذا أهل هلال ذى الحجة فلا يأخذن من شعره ولا من أظفاره شيئا حتى يضحى

(Sahiī Muslim #5236)

ومما ورد في صحيح مسلم قال رسول الله (ص): إذا دخل العشر وأراد بعضكم أن يضحي فلا يأخذن شعرا ولا يقلمن ظفرا فهذا محمول على الندب دون الوجوب بالاجماع

(Raddul Muhtār, 2/181, H.M Sa῾īd)

(Fatāwa Mahmūdiyah, 17/486, Farūqiyyah)

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.