Question:
Assalamu ‘alaykum.
Is it obligatory to perform Qurbani during the 3 days of Eid, or can a Muslim do Qurbani at any time of the year? Could you please quote a verse from the Qur’an regarding performing Qurbani on these specific days of Eid and explain?
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
The obligation is Established Through the Qur’an and the Sunna.
It is necessary (wajib) for someone who fulfills the conditions of udhiya to perform it according to the Hanafi school. This type of obligation is established through the direct commands of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace). This category of obligation has been established through many verses of the Qur’an, such as “Whatever the Messenger gives you seize it, and whatever he forbids you from shun it…“ (Qur’an, 59:7)
The Obligation of Udhiya
Although it is a matter differed upon, the Hanafis cite many hadith in support of the position of udhiya being wajib. Among them is the narration, “Whoever is wealthy but has not sacrificed let him not even come near our place of [the Eid] prayer.“ (Ahmad, Ibn Maja)
The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) also said, “Whoever slaughtered before he prayed [the Eid prayer] let him slaughter another in its place. Whoever has not slaughtered let him do so in the name of Allah.“ (Bukhari and Muslim)
Slaughtering in the Days of Eid
Several companions, such as ‘Umar, ‘Ali, Ibn ‘Umar, Abu Hurayra, and others (May Allah be well-pleased with them all), stated that “The days of slaughter are three, the first being the best of them.“ (Muwatta’ Malik) This is not something that can be deduced; therefore, they must have heard it from the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) directly. Hence the wajib.
There are no Qur’anic verses that explicitly establish the obligation in the first three days. This was left for the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) to clarify. I pray that helps.
(Zayla’i, Tabyin al Haqa’iq, Mawsili, al Ikhtiyar)
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani