Qurbani holds deep significance in Islam, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail (AS) in obedience to Allah during Eid al-Adha. A common question many Muslims ask is whether Qurbani can be performed on behalf of someone else — a family member, a deceased relative, or someone unable to perform it themselves. This article explains the Islamic principles behind performing Qurbani on behalf of others.
The Importance of Qurbani in Islam
Qurbani is an act of worship (ibadah) rooted in the example of Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) faith and obedience. The Quran makes clear that its essence is not the physical offering itself:
“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you” (Quran 22:37, Sahih International translation).
This verse emphasizes that the true value of Qurbani lies in the sincerity and intention behind it — a principle that applies whether the sacrifice is performed by the person themselves or on their behalf.
Qurbani is an obligation (wajib) on every adult Muslim who meets the nisab in the Hanafi school, and a strongly confirmed Sunnah in the Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali schools. Islam also permits performing Qurbani on behalf of others in several situations:
1. On Behalf of a Family Member
Including family members in one’s Qurbani is permissible. When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) offered his Qurbani he said, “O Allah, accept from Muhammad, and the family of Muhammad, and the Ummah of Muhammad” (Sahih Muslim 1967). Scholars take this as a basis for including close family members — parents, a spouse, or children — in the intention of one’s Qurbani.
2. On Behalf of Deceased Relatives
Performing Qurbani on behalf of a deceased relative is permitted by the majority of scholars — the Hanafi, Maliki and Hanbali schools — while the relied-upon Shafi’i view restricts it to where the deceased left a bequest. Our guide on Qurbani for a deceased loved one sets out the differences.
3. On Behalf of Someone Unable to Perform Qurbani Themselves
If someone is unable to perform Qurbani due to financial hardship, illness, or another valid reason, another person can perform it on their behalf — with their consent and with the correct intention. Appointing someone else to carry out a religious obligation on your behalf is a well-established concept in Islamic jurisprudence. A related practice is sacrificing a goat to fulfil a vow (mannat), which can also be arranged on a person’s behalf.
Conditions for Qurbani on Behalf of Someone Else
1. Permission and Intent
If Qurbani is being performed on behalf of a living person, their permission or clear consent is essential. The intention (niyyah) must be sincere and specifically for that person’s sake.
2. The Person Performing It Must Meet the Requirements
The person carrying out the Qurbani on someone else’s behalf must themselves meet the basic requirements — being a Muslim of sound mind who meets the Nisab threshold — and must ensure the sacrifice itself meets all Islamic requirements, including selecting a healthy animal that meets the age requirements.
3. Sharing a Single Animal Among Multiple People
A larger animal, such as a buffalo, can be shared among up to seven people — the Prophet’s Companions shared a camel and a cow between seven (Sahih Muslim 1318) — with each share able to be dedicated to a different person or intention. This makes it possible to offer Qurbani on behalf of yourself and others using a single animal.
Sources
Qur’an 22:37 and 6:162 are quoted per the Sahih International translation. The Prophet’s supplication naming “the family of Muhammad and the Ummah of Muhammad” is Sahih Muslim 1967. The seven-share rule for large animals follows Sahih Muslim 1318 (Jabir ibn Abdullah). 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. On the four-school difference over Qurbani for the deceased, see the linked guide.
Conclusion
Performing Qurbani on behalf of another person — whether a family member, a deceased relative, or someone unable to do it themselves — is a recognised and meaningful practice in Islam. As the Quran reminds believers:
“Say, ‘Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds'” (Quran 6:162, Sahih International translation).
As long as the correct conditions are met and the intention is sincere, Muslims can offer Qurbani on behalf of others with confidence that it fulfils the obligation and reaches those it is intended for.