‘How to share a Qurbani ?’

  

Allah (swt) appointed acts of devotion to every community, for them to celebrate God’s name over the livestock He provided for them. Muslims are ordained by God to mention His name, on specified days during the Hajj pilgrimage season, over the livestock He has provided for them. Indeed, Qurbani is a sacred rite of Islam binding upon devout Muslims everywhere: those who honour God’s rites show the piety of their hearts, and anyone who honours the sacred ordinances of God will have good rewards from his Lord, Insha Allah.

As the Holy Qur’an notes concerning sacrificial animals such as Ox or Camel, ‘There is much good in them for you, so invoke God’s name over them as they are lined up for sacrifice, then, when they have fallen down dead, feed yourselves and those who do not ask, as well as those who do. We have subjected them to you in this way so that you may be thankful. It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches God but your piety. He has subjected them to you in this way so that you may glorify God for having guided you. Give good news to those who do good.’ (22:37-38)    

 

In this context, devout Muslims who plan to perform Qurbani may have related questions to clarify and understand. ‘How to share a Qurbani ? In case a poor man is giving a Qurbani and a rich one is giving a Qurbani, how to share the Qurbani?’

 

Recently, this question was put forth in front of our Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius by Khwaja Muhyiuddin Saheb of Chennai, a disciple. The considered response given by Hazrat Saheb (aba) on the occasion would be of educative value for everyone who is to perform the Qurbani as part of the forthcoming Eid-ul-Adha rites.  

 

Read the Response Below: 

 

A Qurbani or Udhiya [Blood Sacrifice or Sacrifice of an Islamic Approved Animal for the Great Eid of Sacrifice] is mandatory upon every Muslim who is debt-free and who has the means to do the sacrifice.

According to the amount and opportunities which each and every Muslim gets to spend in the path of Allah for the Sacrifice of Abraham, there is actually no difference between the share of the poor and the rich. According to the amount of meat received in an animal purchased for the sacrifice, the poor according to his means [i.e. whether he is participating in a collective sacrifice, getting a share out of seven parts in an Ox or Buffalo or Camel] or if he has got a sheep or goat as one whole part for himself (because there is no seven-parts shares in a sheep or goat – it counts as one part), then be it the rich or the poor, the sharing of the meat is the same, i.e. it is to be divided into three parts for distribution:

1. One third for the poor [i.e. the Muslim poor who do not have any means to participate in Qurbani and who really deserve that meat]

 

2. One third for one’s own Muslim relatives and friends,

 

3. And one third for oneself (One’s own home).

 

Now it is advisable to distribute - whether for one’s relative and friends or even for the poor - one should divide the meat equally for at least one pound of meat each to be distributed to the number of poor selected, and one pound of meat each to those of the relatives and friends you have selected to give the Qurbani.

 

This is both applicable for both the rich and the poor. Even the poor doing Qurbani should follow the same rules of sharing like the rich, just like in the month of Ramadan all Muslims – rich, poor or even newborn babies – whereby the Fitra is obligatory upon them all. The rich has to pay, and the poor as well.

 

For example, when someone has taken a part in an Ox, and he gets 30 pounds of meat. Thus he distributes the meat (as follows):

 

1. Ten pounds of the meat for the poor. He thus chooses 10 poor Muslims (or 10 families/ houses), and give them each one pound of meat.

 

2. Ten pounds of the sacrificed meat for the Muslim relatives and friends. He thus chooses 10 of his Muslim relatives and friends [Only believers in the One True God and does not commit Shirk] that he wishes to give, and gives them each one pound of meat.

 

3. And lastly, he keeps ten pounds of meat for his own use at home.

 

Or, if the one doing Qurbani is aware of the difficult financial situations of some, and if families have many children, thus, the one doing Qurbani can then select only five of such needy poor Muslims and give each two pounds of meat which equals to ten pounds of the meat allocated to the poor (out of the 30 pounds).

 

Now, for a goat or sheep having only one share for one person doing Qurbani, then the meat will be lesser in amount than one share in an Ox or Camel. But even then, the goat is distributed into three parts: for the poor, for the relatives and friends, and for oneself.

 

Now, it is also perfectly advisable and permissible for someone to give his share of Qurbani – all his three parts of his share, whereby he invites his Muslim relatives and friends, some poor people and his own family, and they partake of the meat as a collective lunch or dinner.

 

Or if one desires, he can organise a lunch or dinner which the Qurbani meat and invites all the members of his Jamaat (Muslim Community) wherein the poor people, his relatives and friends and own family members are present – forming part as one large community of Muslim – one’s spiritual family, and they all partake of the meat.