Short answer
Yes. In the Hanafi school you may give a voluntary qurbani on behalf of a parent or anyone who has died, and the reward reaches them. Do your own wajib qurbani first. The Shafi'i school allows it only if the deceased left a bequest for it.
A voluntary qurbani on behalf of a deceased person is valid and its reward reaches them. The family may eat the meat as with any qurbani. If the deceased made a bequest for it and it is paid from his estate, all the meat must be given to the poor. It does not replace the giver's own wajib qurbani.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- A qurbani on behalf of the dead is not valid unless they left a bequest for it; one may still share the reward of one's own sacrifice with them.
- Maliki
- It is makruh to sacrifice on behalf of the dead unless they had designated it.
Explanation
When the Prophet ﷺ sacrificed his ram, he said: O Allah, accept it from Muhammad, the family of Muhammad and the ummah of Muhammad. His ummah included people who had already died. Hanafi and Hanbali scholars take this, together with the hadith that charity and Hajj for the dead benefit them, as proof that the reward of a sacrifice can reach the deceased.
- Your own qurbani first: if qurbani is wajib on you, you must do yours. A share for a late parent is extra.
- Two ways: sacrifice an animal or share in the name of the deceased; or do your own and intend its reward for them too.
- The meat: a voluntary qurbani for the deceased is treated like your own: eat, gift and give in charity.
- From a bequest: if the deceased asked for it in their will and it is paid from the estate, all the meat goes to the poor.
- For the Prophet ﷺ: many Hanafi scholars encourage a share on his behalf, out of love for him.
For other ways to benefit the dead, see sadaqah jariyah and dua for deceased parents.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-An'aam 6:162
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿١٦٢﴾
Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.
The sacrifice is done for Allah alone, whoever it is on behalf of.
Sahih Muslim 1967
Sahih... اللهم تقبل من محمد وآل محمد ومن أمة محمد ...
"O Allah, accept this from Muhammad, the family of Muhammad and the ummah of Muhammad."
The reward of a sacrifice can be offered for others, including those who have died.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1852
Sahih... حجي عنها أرأيت لو كان على أمك دين ...
"Perform Hajj for her. Do you think if your mother owed a debt you would pay it?"
Acts of worship involving wealth can be done on behalf of the dead.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Udhiyah. The difference between a voluntary qurbani for the dead and one from a bequest.
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Udhiyah, chapter on using the meat. The meat of a sacrifice for the dead.
- Minhaj al-Talibin (Nawawi), Kitab al-Udhiyah. The Shafi'i condition of a bequest.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.