Udhiyah (also written udhiyyah or udhiya) is the word Islamic law books and Hadith collections use for the animal sacrificed on Eid ul Adha. In India the same act is usually called Qurbani. This guide explains the term, the Quran verses it rests on, and how it connects to the Qurbani you book today.
Udhiyah and Qurbani: same act, two names
Hadith collections give this topic its own chapter under the Arabic name. In Sahih al-Bukhari it is the book titled “Al-Adha Festival Sacrifice (Adaahi)”, whose first chapter is on “the legal way of Al-Udhiya” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5545). In Sunan Abi Dawud the chapters on sacrificial animals are in the book of “Sacrifice (Kitab Al-Dahaya)”, for example the chapter “What Is Disliked For Udhiyyah” (Sunan Abi Dawud 2802). People searching online use all of these spellings, as well as “Qurbani”, “Qurban” and “Eid sacrifice”. They point to the same Eid ul Adha sacrifice.
Do not confuse it with two other acts that also involve an animal: Aqeeqah, offered for a newborn child, and Sadqah, a charitable sacrifice that can be offered at any time. Our guide on the difference between Qurbani, Sadqah and Aqeeqah explains each.
What the Quran says
Four passages are most often quoted. Translations below are from The Clear Quran by Dr. Mustafa Khattab, checked on quran.com.
- Quran 22:34 — “For every community We appointed a rite of sacrifice so that they may pronounce the Name of Allah over the sacrificial animals He has provided for them. For your God is only One God, so submit yourselves to Him …alone….”
- Quran 22:36 — the sacrificial animals are among the symbols of Allah; pronounce the Name of Allah over them, and “you may eat from their meat, and feed the needy — those who do not beg, and those who do.”
- Quran 22:37 — “Neither their meat nor blood reaches Allah. Rather, it is your piety that reaches Him.”
- Quran 108:2 — “So pray and sacrifice to your Lord …alone….”
The story behind Eid ul Adha is told in Surah As-Saffat. After Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his son submitted to Allah’s command, the Quran says: “And We ransomed his son with a great sacrifice” (Quran 37:107; the account runs from 37:102).
What the term does not tell you
Knowing the meaning of Udhiyah is separate from the rulings around it. Whether it is obligatory on you depends on your school of law — see our guide on who Qurbani is due on. The age and condition of the animal are covered in the animal conditions guide, the permitted days in days and time of Qurbani, and the sharing of the meat in dividing Qurbani meat.
Udhiyah booked online
“Online Udhiyah” simply means that the family arranges the sacrifice through a service instead of buying and slaughtering the animal themselves. The act is the same; the arrangement is different. Qurbani Easy offers goat and buffalo options. You can see the options on the Qurbani booking page, and read about how booking works in our guide on online and offline Qurbani. For the full set of rulings, start from the Qurbani rules hub.
Qurbani Easy does not offer camel Qurbani.
Citation sources
- Quran 22:34, 22:36, 22:37, 37:102-107 and 108:2 — text and translation checked on quran.com (The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab).
- Sahih al-Bukhari 5545 (book “Al-Adha Festival Sacrifice (Adaahi)”, chapter “The legal way of Al-Udhiya”) — checked on sunnah.com.
- Sunan Abi Dawud 2802 (chapter “What Is Disliked For Udhiyyah”, graded Sahih by Al-Albani on sunnah.com) — checked on sunnah.com.
- This guide states no fiqh ruling of its own; for rulings follow the linked guides and ask a qualified scholar of your school.
Roman Hindi mein padhein: Udhiyah Kya Hai?
Related guides: the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah and Eid ul Adha morning: what is reported from the Prophet.