Short answer
Up to seven. A cow, buffalo or camel can be shared by seven people, each taking a share of at least one seventh, while a sheep or goat is for one person only. In the Hanafi school every partner must intend worship; if one wants only meat, none of the shares count.
A cow, buffalo or camel may be shared by up to seven people, each owning at least a seventh. All partners must be Muslims intending an act of worship, such as qurbani, aqiqah or a Hajj sacrifice. If any partner intends only meat, the sacrifice is invalid for all. The meat is divided by weight, not by guesswork.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- A partner who wants only the meat does not spoil the shares of the others who intend qurbani.
- Maliki
- Partners may not share ownership of a sacrifice. A man may buy an animal himself and include others in its reward.
- Hanbali
- A partner who wants only the meat does not spoil the shares of the others who intend qurbani.
Explanation
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said that at Hudaybiyah they sacrificed with the Prophet ﷺ a camel for seven and a cow for seven. The Hanafi, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools apply this to qurbani. The Maliki school does not allow shared ownership in qurbani, only shared reward.
- Fewer than seven: fine. Two, three or six people can share, as long as no one's share is less than a seventh.
- Mixed intentions: one partner can intend qurbani and another aqiqah for a newborn (two shares for a boy, one for a girl, in the Hanafi practice), as both are worship. See our aqiqah calculator.
- Meat only: if someone just wants beef, every share fails. Make sure all partners are doing it as worship.
- Non-Muslim partner: invalidates the shares.
- Dividing: weigh the meat and split it evenly, unless every partner agrees to give their share away together.
One person can also take several shares, for example three shares for three family members who each owe qurbani. Use our share calculator to plan the number of animals.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Hajj 22:36
وَٱلْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَٰهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَٰٓئِرِ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌۭ ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَآفَّ ۖ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْقَانِعَ وَٱلْمُعْتَرَّ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنَٰهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٣٦﴾
And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allah upon them when lined up [for sacrifice]; and when they are [lifeless] on their sides, then eat from them and feed the needy and the beggar. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful.
Camels and cattle are sacrificial animals.
Sahih Muslim 1318
Sahih... البدنة عن سبعة والبقرة عن سبعة ...
"Jabir said: we sacrificed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the year of Hudaybiyah a camel for seven and a cow for seven."
A camel or cow can be shared by seven.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Udhiyah, on sharing a cow or camel. Up to seven, each intending worship.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Udhiyah. A partner who intends meat only spoils the sacrifice for all, and meat is divided by weight.
- Mukhtasar Khalil with al-Sharh al-Kabir, Bab al-Dahaya. The Maliki rule against shared ownership.
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.