Important Guidelines for Performing Qurbani Correctly
Following the general issues of Qurbani, here are a few important matters concerning those who perform the sacrifice themselves or have it done on their behalf.
For a person who intends to perform the Qurbani, to cut or pluck any hair from their body or to cut their nails without necessity before performing the sacrifice is a violation of the command of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). It is narrated from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
((( إِذَا دَخَلَتِ الْعَشْرُ وَأَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يُضَحِّيَ، فَلَا يَمَسَّ مِنْ شَعَرِهِ وَبَشَرِهِ شَيْئًا ::: When the ten days (i.e., the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah) begin and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, he should not touch any of his hair or skin. )))
Sahih Muslim / Hadith 1977 / Kitab al-Adahi / Bab 7.
What is meant by “should not touch any of his hair or skin”? The details of this command are found in two other narrations that Imam Muslim transmitted immediately after this one. These are also narrated from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her). The words of one narration are:
((( إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ وَعِنْدَهُ أُضْحِيَّةٌ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُضَحِّيَ، فَلَا يَأْخُذَنَّ شَعْرًا وَلَا يَقْلِمَنَّ ظُفُرًا ::: When the ten days (i.e., the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah) begin and someone has an animal for sacrifice and intends to sacrifice it, then he should not take any hair at all (i.e., not cut any hair) and should absolutely not trim his nails. )))
And the other narration is:
((( إِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ هِلَالَ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ وَأَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يُضَحِّيَ، فَلْيُمْسِكْ عَنْ شَعَرِهِ وَأَظْفَارِهِ ::: When you see the crescent of Dhul-Hijjah and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, he should refrain from (cutting) his hair and his nails. )))
In the presence of all these rulings, there is no room for any person who intends to perform the Qurbani to take any hair from his body or cut his nails without necessity before the sacrifice. However, in a situation of necessity, it can be done. This permission is based on the same principle and law that I detailed in the first article of the series on the month of Dhul-Hijjah. For details, please refer to that article.
Regarding this matter and those who perform or commission the Qurbani, there are several commonly heard opinions and fatwas, and certain actions are performed for which there is no evidence in the Shari’ah. Let’s briefly examine them:
(1) If a person, due to necessity, forgetfulness, mistake, or even intentionally, cuts or plucks any hair from their body or cuts their nails, the fatwa imposing a fidyah (penalty) or fine is without basis. There is no evidence for such a ruling, neither in the Book of Allah nor in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes, if someone does this, they should repent, seek forgiveness abundantly, and perform more good deeds than usual. Because ((( فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ::: Indeed, good deeds remove evil deeds. ))) Surah Hud / Ayah 114. Meaning, they either serve as an atonement for sins or outweigh them in the record of deeds.
(2) Sometimes, a person decides to offer a sacrifice on the second, third, or any of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, having already cut their hair or nails before making this intention. They are then told or made to believe that they can no longer perform the Qurbani because they have cut their hair or nails after the new moon was sighted. This is also contrary to the hadiths mentioned above, as the person who intends to sacrifice is bound by this rule after forming the intention, not before.
(3) Some people appoint someone as their agent (wakeel) or make a bequest (wasiyyah) to perform their sacrifice, and then assume that the agent is now the one bound by the prohibition of cutting hair or nails, not them. They then comfortably cut or trim their hair, nails, beard, etc. This is completely wrong because the command not to cut hair or nails applies to the one for whom the sacrifice is being offered, not the one who is merely slaughtering the animal or distributing its meat on their behalf. This is a ruse (heela), similar to what the Children of Israel did to catch fish on the Sabbath.
(4) When the head of a family intends to offer a sacrifice, preventing the rest of the family from cutting or trimming their hair or nails, under the assumption that they are included in the sacrifice by virtue of being family members, or thinking that they will participate in the tasks of the sacrifice and therefore should also not cut their hair and nails. This is also a fatwa for which there is no evidence in the religion.
(5) Designating the sacrificial animal specifically for the Isal-e-Sawab (conveying of reward) to a deceased person.
(6) While sacrificing, placing a hand on the animal’s back or any part of its body, or even without doing so, saying, “This sacrifice is in the name of so-and-so. O Allah, convey its reward to so-and-so.” At times, the person slaughtering only makes this declaration, and the animal is slaughtered in the name of someone other than Allah instead of in the name of Allah. If this happens by mistake, Insha’Allah there is no harm, but it is hard to believe that one remembers to elaborately announce their intention but forgets to mention the name of Allah. Conveying reward is at the discretion of Allah the Exalted, and He is not bound by anyone’s command or intention, Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. A book of mine on this topic, titled “‘Īṣāl-e-S̱awāb aur us kī Ḥaqīqat'” (The Conveyance of Reward and its Reality), has been published, which contains considerable research on this subject, by the grace of Allah.
(7) Offering a sacrifice using unlawful (Haram) wealth. Allah the Exalted does not accept anything given from impure sources, as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ((( إِنَّ اللَّهَ طَيِّبٌ لَا يَقْبَلُ إِلَّا طَيِّبًا ::: Indeed, Allah is Pure and accepts only that which is pure. ))) Sahih Muslim / Hadith 1015 / Kitab al-Zakat / Bab 19.
(8) Not performing the sacrifice despite having the financial means to do so.
(9) To save money or for the sake of reputation (so that people will say so-and-so also performed a sacrifice), buying and sacrificing any animal, regardless of its poor condition.
(10) Distributing all the meat, or keeping all of it for oneself, or distributing it only among one’s close acquaintances, especially to those who have also performed a sacrifice, while neglecting the poor.
(11) Paying the animal’s price in charity instead of performing the sacrifice itself.
(12) Performing the sacrifice before the Eid prayer.
(13) Having one’s animal slaughtered by someone else without a valid Shar’i (legal Islamic) excuse.
(14) For the one offering the sacrifice (not the one who slaughters) to eat or drink before the Eid prayer.
(15) When exchanging Eid greetings, abandoning the words used by the Companions (Sahaba, may Allah be pleased with them) and instead using phrases that have no basis in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), the practice of the Companions, or the sayings and actions of the Imams.
(16) Designating this day or any of these days (or any other day of the year) for visiting a graveyard or a specific grave.
(17) In the name of Eid gatherings, holding get-togethers that dissolve the boundaries between Halal and Haram, erase the distinction between Mahram (unmarriageable kin) and non-Mahram, bid farewell to modesty and shame, and destroy one’s sense of honor. Parties where “brothers,” “sisters,” “brothers-in-law,” “sisters-in-law,” “uncles,” “aunties,” and “cousins” mix freely without regard for any Shar’i limits, saying, “‘Pardah (veiling) is in the eyes.'” As if their eyes are pure and the eyes of those upon whom the command of Pardah was first revealed were not. Some present an even stronger argument, saying, “‘Hearts should be clean.'” As if their hearts are clean and the hearts of those upon whom the command of Pardah was first revealed were not. Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rāji’ūn, wallāhul musta’ān.
Respected readers, the mistakes mentioned above are just a few among many. They are mentioned here because they are very common. Please understand them and seek to rectify them.
وَبِاللَّهِ التَّوْفِيقُ
(And with Allah is all success)
هَٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللَّهُ تَعَالَىٰ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
(This is what I know, and Allah the Exalted knows best what is correct)
From: Adil Suhail
