Qurbani 2026

With not long to go till Qurbani 2026, it’s time to connect with Allah (SWT) through seeking his pleasure and honouring the great sacrifice of the Prophet Ibrahim (AS). Qurbani is within the holy month of Dhul Hijjah, the last month in the Islamic lunar calendar. The month carries a variety of spiritual events and is a very spiritual time for Muslims all over the world. Dhul Hijjah brings communities together, strengthens faith and even helps those in need.

In this holy month, believers go on their Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Pilgrims from far and wide come together to devote themselves to Allah (SWT), visiting historically significant landmarks such as Mount Arafat, where many Islamic events took place. It is an obligation for every Muslim to complete Hajj once during their lives to enhance their spirituality and faith.

Additionally, the day of Eid al-Adha falls in the month of Dhul Hijah. Eid al-Adha is a celebration in the Islamic calendar that goes on for three days. The first day begins on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, extending for a further two days, known as the days of Tashreeq. Eid al-Adha

Qurbani is a chance for believers to come together and spend time with their families, friends and the wider community. Muslims exchange gifts, eat traditional dishes and pray together. Eid al-Adha is also a time to build a stronger relationship with Allah, as well as help those in need. The ritual of Qurbani is performed across the days of Eid to provide the needy with quality meals and to remember the sacrifice of Ibrahim (AS).

Qurbani is a ritual that is performed over the days of Eid al-Adha. Muslims worldwide slaughter an animal to seek the pleasure of Allah. The animals that are sacrificed are usually sheep, goats, cows, buffalo or camels. The ritual is done to remember the story of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), becoming an opportunity for Muslims to adopt his loyalty to God. Ibrahim (AS) was willing to sacrifice his son, Ismail (AS), as commanded to him by Allah (SWT). Both men committed themselves to Allah by obeying the command. Ibrahim (AS) took his son to Mount Arafat to sacrifice him. However, Allah (SWT) intervened to reveal it was a test of love and devotion to Him and rewarded the unwavering loyalty of Ibrahim and Ismail (AS) with a ram to sacrifice instead. Ibrahim (AS) sacrificed the ram to Allah (SWT), and Ismail’s (AS) life was spared.

This story is what began the ritual of Qurbani for Muslims to follow. Through this, believers sacrifice animals during the days of Eid and seek to gain reward from Allah.

There is a common debate around the topic of Qurbani and whether it is compulsory or not. According to the Hanafi School of Thought, Qurbani is Fardh (compulsory) upon every sane adult male and female believer who has wealth in excess of their needs. Under this School of Thought, those who are eligible to pay Zakat are also obliged to give Qurbani.

The remaining Islamic Schools of Thought agree that Qurbani is not obligatory as there is no evidence that Qurbani has been commanded directly by Allah. Having said that, Qurbani is a highly encouraged practice to do during the days of Eid al-Adha as it is an act that brings a believer closer to Allah, along with following the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him).

Traditionally, to give Qurbani, Muslims perform the sacrifice of an animal. This must be done in compliance with Islamic rules to ensure that the sacrifice is done correctly. The sacrifices take place on the first day of Eid al-Adha after the congregational prayer in the morning. From this time, Qurbani is done throughout the days of Eid until the sun sets on the third day. Believers must make sure that their animal meets the criteria set out for them in Islamic rulings, such as the age of the animal and their condition. They also must choose specific animals for Qurbani, which are the following:

• Sheep/Goats: These should be at least one year old and are equal to one person’s Qurbani.
• Cows/Buffalo: These need to be at least two years old and equal to seven people’s Qurbani.
• Camels: These animals should be at least five years old and are equal to seven people’s Qurbani.

As well as this, the animal chosen for sacrifice needs to be healthy with no diseases. They should fit into the following criteria:

• The animal should not be toothless or missing half of their teeth.
• The animal can’t have a weak leg, and they should be able to walk.
• The animal has to be a healthy weight; they can’t be very thin or lean.
• The animals should be able to walk themselves to the site of the slaughter.
• The animal cannot be blind or have only one eye.

However, it isn’t always possible for Muslims to carry out the sacrifice themselves, such as in countries like the UK. Due to this, if you need to give Qurbani in the UK, you should donate and give Qurbani online to charitable organisations such as Emaan Relief to carry out the slaughter on your behalf.

Yes, you can donate your Qurbani. This is extremely helpful and useful for those in countries where sacrifice isn’t allowed. For example, in the UK, there are strict slaughter regulations in place that prevent Muslims from performing the sacrifice. Donating to a charity gives you the ability to fulfil your obligation, along with helping more people in desperate need.

You can donate Qurbani to Emaan Relief, giving to those most in need who face poverty and hardship daily. We sacrifice the animal on your behalf, following Islamic rules and regulations. Once the sacrifice is complete, we quickly distribute the meat to vulnerable communities across 24 countries, nourishing individuals who can’t afford to have proper, cooked meals. Spread the joy of Eid to people in need, giving them an opportunity to join in on the celebrations of this day with hope and dignity.

The price of Qurbani in 2026 will depend entirely on the size of the animal you choose and the country you carry your Qurbani out in. There are multiple choices when it comes to the size of the animal. Many people often ask, “How much Qurbani should I give?” You can donate one small animal that equates to one share, or you can choose to donate one share of a large animal. Large animals equate to seven people’s shares, so you can purchase one-seventh of that animal. You could even buy a whole large animal, meaning you buy all seven shares.