The vast majority of Muslims in India follow the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh). Understanding the Hanafi rules for Qurbani helps you book correctly, know exactly who must perform it, and ensure your Qurbani is accepted. This guide covers the key Hanafi rulings on Qurbani.
Is Qurbani Wajib or Sunnah According to Hanafi?
In the Hanafi school, Qurbani (Udhiyah) is wajib — obligatory — for every adult Muslim who is sane, free (not a slave), resident (not a traveller on the days of Eid), and who possesses nisab wealth on the days of Eid ul Adha.
Nisab is the minimum amount of wealth that makes Zakat obligatory — approximately 7.5 tolas of gold or 52.5 tolas of silver in value, after basic needs are met. If you own this much wealth on the days of Eid, Qurbani is wajib upon you. This is different from the Shafi’i position, which considers Qurbani as sunnah mu’akkadah (confirmed sunnah, not obligatory).
Who Must Perform Qurbani (Hanafi)?
- Every adult (post-puberty) Muslim
- Who is sane
- Who is a resident (muqeem) — not a traveller (musafir) on Eid days
- Who possesses nisab — even if they owe debts, as long as they own nisab above basic needs
A husband is not required to perform Qurbani on behalf of his wife — she performs her own if she meets the conditions. However, it is common and praiseworthy for a husband to include his wife and children with a sincere niyyah, especially for the optional/nafl Qurbani.
Hanafi Rules on Animals for Qurbani
Permissible animals: Goat, sheep, cow, buffalo, bull, camel. Domestic fowl (chickens) are NOT valid for Qurbani.
Minimum age:
- Goat and sheep: 1 year minimum (a sheep that appears 1 year old but is 6 months old is also permitted if it looks mature)
- Cow, buffalo, bull: 2 years minimum
- Camel: 5 years minimum
Disqualifying defects (Hanafi):
- Blind in one eye or obviously poor eyesight
- Clearly lame — cannot walk to the slaughter point
- Extremely thin/emaciated with no marrow in bones
- Ear cut off more than 1/3, nose cut off more than 1/3, tail cut off more than 1/3
- Born without ears (not merely short-eared)
Animals with minor blemishes (small horn chips, castrated animals, etc.) are still valid.
Hanafi Rules on Timing of Qurbani
Qurbani is valid on the 10th, 11th, and 12th of Dhul Hijjah. According to the Hanafi position, it should begin only after the Eid prayer — or at the time Eid prayer would be held in your area. Qurbani before Eid salah is not valid.
When you book with Qurbani Easy, our teams begin performing Qurbani after the local Eid prayer on the 10th Dhul Hijjah and continue through the 12th. All bookings are fulfilled within these three days.
What Is the Hanafi Position on Tawkeel (Online Qurbani)?
Tawkeel — delegating Qurbani to a trustworthy wakil — is fully permitted in the Hanafi school. Many classical Hanafi texts discuss this. The wakil must be Muslim, the slaughter must be in the correct method, and your name and niyyah must be stated. This is exactly what Qurbani Easy does.
Can I do Qurbani outside my own city?
Yes. There is no Hanafi requirement that Qurbani be performed in the same city or even country as the person it is being done for. It can be performed anywhere, as long as the other conditions are met. This is why NRIs in the Gulf or Europe routinely perform Qurbani through services like ours in India.
If I miss all three days, what should I do?
In the Hanafi school, if Qurbani was wajib and you missed it without a valid excuse, you must give sadaqah equivalent to the value of a Qurbani animal to the poor as compensation. This is the Hanafi position — the obligation does not simply disappear.
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