Short answer
In the Hanafi school qurbani is wajib on every adult, sane, resident Muslim who owns wealth at the nisab level beyond basic needs during the days of Eid al-Adha. The Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali schools hold it is a stressed sunnah. Giving the money to charity instead does not fulfil it.
Qurbani (udhiyah) is wajib on a Muslim who is sane, adult and resident (not a traveller) and who owns, on 10 to 12 Dhul Hijjah, wealth equal to the nisab of zakat beyond his basic needs and debts. The wealth does not need to have been held for a year, and it includes any surplus property, not only zakatable assets.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Qurbani is sunnah mu'akkadah, and it is makruh for someone able to leave it.
- Maliki
- Qurbani is sunnah mu'akkadah in the relied-upon view.
- Hanbali
- Qurbani is sunnah mu'akkadah, and it is makruh for someone able to leave it.
Explanation
The Quran says "pray to your Lord and sacrifice", and the Prophet ﷺ said whoever has the means and does not sacrifice should not come near the Eid prayer place. Abu Hanifa took this warning as a sign that qurbani is wajib on those who can afford it. The other schools read the same texts as a strong sunnah.
- Nisab: the same value as zakat (see today's nisab), counting cash, gold, silver, trade goods and any extra possessions you do not need, such as a second car or an unused plot.
- Timing of ownership: if you reach the nisab at any point during the three days, it becomes wajib.
- Travellers: a traveller is exempt. A pilgrim who counts as a resident in Makkah under the travel rules and has the nisab owes the Eid qurbani as well as any dam of tamattu or qiran.
- Per person: it is due on each eligible person, not once per family (see per person or household).
Money instead of the animal: during the three days, only slaughtering fulfils the duty; giving the price as charity does not. If the days pass and someone who owed it did not sacrifice, he gives the value of a goat or sheep to the poor and seeks forgiveness.
For the days and a share calculator, see our qurbani page.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Kawthar 108:2
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنْحَرْ ﴿٢﴾
So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].
The command to sacrifice for Allah.
Quran, Surah Al-Hajj 22:37
لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿٣٧﴾
Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good.
What reaches Allah from the sacrifice is taqwa.
Sunan Ibn Majah 3123
Graded hasan... من كان له سعة ولم يضح فلا يقربن مصلانا ...
"Whoever has the means and does not sacrifice, let him not come near our prayer place."
The warning on which the Hanafis base the wajib ruling.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Udhiyah, opening section. Qurbani is wajib on the free, Muslim, resident and wealthy.
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Udhiyah, first chapter. The nisab is any surplus wealth, and it need not be held for a year.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Udhiyah. Giving the value after the days have passed.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Udhiyah. The Shafi'i view that it is a stressed sunnah.
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.