Last updated: 2027
Qurbani, also called Udhiyah, is one of the central acts of worship of Eid ul Adha. It recalls Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) readiness to sacrifice his son Ismail (AS) in obedience to Allah, and Allah’s mercy in accepting a ram in his place. Every year Muslims across India mark the occasion by sacrificing an animal and sharing the meat, so that Eid is a day of relief for poor families as much as a day of celebration.
This guide covers what you need to know for Qurbani in 2027: who is required to offer it, which animals qualify, when it must be done, how the meat is shared, and how to arrange your Qurbani online in India.
The meaning of Qurbani in Islam
Qurbani is a direct instruction in the Qur’an, but the Qur’an is also clear that the outward act is not the point:
“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you.” (Qur’an 22:37)
The animal and the act are the means; the intention behind them is what is rewarded. A Qurbani offered sincerely, with the aim of pleasing Allah and helping those in need, is what carries weight — not the size or cost of the animal.
Who is required to offer Qurbani
Whether Qurbani is an obligation or a strongly confirmed Sunnah depends on your school: in the Hanafi school it is wajib on every adult, sane, resident Muslim who owns wealth above the nisab — the same measure used for Zakat — on the days of Eid ul Adha; the Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali schools treat it as sunnah mu’akkadah, strongly confirmed, for anyone who can afford it. Either way it is not required of children, or of anyone who does not meet the nisab. Our eligibility guide covers this in full.
In most households one Qurbani is offered on behalf of the family, though each eligible member may offer their own. A goat or a sheep counts as one share. A larger animal such as a buffalo can be shared by up to seven people, each with a valid, separate intention.
Choosing the animal
The animals used for Qurbani in India are the goat, the sheep and the buffalo. Whichever you choose, it must meet the conditions Islam sets:
- Age. A goat or sheep should be at least one year old (a healthy, well-grown sheep of six months is also accepted by many scholars). A buffalo should be at least two years old.
- Health. The animal must be free of defects that affect its value as a sacrifice — it should not be blind or one-eyed, visibly lame, severely ill, or extremely emaciated.
When you book online, a trustworthy platform states the age, weight and price of each animal or share, so you can confirm it qualifies before you pay.
When Qurbani is performed
Qurbani is valid only on the days of Eid ul Adha — the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, after the Eid prayer, and continuing through the 12th (the Shafi’i school extends this to the 13th). Sacrificing earlier is better, so the meat reaches families sooner. A Qurbani carried out before the Eid prayer does not count.
The exact dates for 2027 depend on the sighting of the moon for Dhul Hijjah; confirm them with your local moon-sighting authority as Eid approaches, and book early enough that your Qurbani is scheduled within the valid days.
For a clear comparison of the two Eids and why paying early does not change the valid sacrifice window, read Eid ul-Fitr vs Eid ul-Adha and booking Qurbani in advance.
How the meat is shared
The sunnah is to divide the meat into three parts: one for your own household, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor. If you carry out Qurbani yourself, you keep a portion and distribute the rest.
When you arrange Qurbani through a platform such as Qurbani Easy, the entire share is given to poor and deserving families rather than returned to you. There is no home delivery of meat to the person who booked — the sacrifice stays rooted in charity, and the meat goes where the need is greatest, including rural districts of India where families rarely eat meat through the year.
Arranging your Qurbani online in India
Booking Qurbani online has become a common choice in India, especially for people in cities with no access to a livestock market, and for anyone who cannot be present on the day. Appointing someone to perform the sacrifice on your behalf (wakalah) is well established in Islamic practice, so an online Qurbani carried out under proper supervision is valid. If you are still deciding between arranging the sacrifice yourself and booking online, see our comparison of online and offline Qurbani.
With Qurbani Easy the process is straightforward: choose your animal or share, pay securely, and the Qurbani is performed on the day of Eid under scholarly supervision. You receive confirmation — usually a photo or video — and the meat is distributed to families in need across India.
For a step-by-step walkthrough of the booking process and what to check in a platform, see our guide on how to buy Qurbani online in India.
Planning your Qurbani for 2027
- Book early. Slots and better-value animals go first, and an early booking makes sure your Qurbani is scheduled within the valid Eid days.
- Set your budget. Account for the animal or share and any service fee, and decide in advance how much you want to give.
- Confirm the animal qualifies. Check the stated age and that the animal is described as healthy and free of defects.
- Keep Zakat separate. Qurbani is its own obligation; it does not replace Zakat, and Zakat should be calculated and given on its own.
- Involve the family. Make the intention together and talk through what Qurbani means — it is an act of worship, not only a transaction.
Qurbani, Aqiqah and Sadaqah
Qurbani is specific to Eid ul Adha. Aqiqah is the sacrifice offered to thank Allah for the birth of a child, and Sadaqah Qurbani is a voluntary sacrifice that can be given at any time of year. Qurbani Easy arranges all three; this guide covers Qurbani only.
Sources
- The classification of Qurbani as wajib in the Hanafi school and as sunnah mu’akkadah in the Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali schools follows IslamQA (Hanafi section) and IslamQA citing the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas.
- The animal age and defect criteria follow the hadith of al-Bara’ ibn Azib (Sunan Abu Dawud 2802, graded sahih). A large animal being shared by seven follows Sahih Muslim 1318 (Jabir ibn Abdullah). Qur’an 22:37 is quoted per the Sahih International translation. On appointing an agent (wakalah) to perform the sacrifice, see Is Online Qurbani Valid in Islam?
Conclusion
Qurbani in 2027 is a chance for Muslims in India to renew their faith, follow the example of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), and make sure poor families share in the joy of Eid. Whether you sacrifice in person or book online, the essentials are the same: the right animal, on the right days, with a sincere intention, and the meat reaching those who need it.