Scholars explain upon whom Qurbani mandatory

KABUL (Pajhwok): Religious scholars say every sane and able-bodied Muslim who owns wealth beyond need and equal to (or more than) 87.48 grams of gold) is obliged to give a Qurbani (slaughter animal on Eid-ul-Adha).

The scholars say people who do not distribute the meat of Qurbani among the poor, their sacrifice may be accepted albeit with reduced reward.

Those eligible should own wealth, apart from necessities of life (house, vehicle, clothes…), worth more than 87 grams of gold or an equivalent price.

Dr. Noorullah Kawsar, a religious scholar and academician at the Afghanistan Academy of Sciences, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “Qurbani is obligatory on a person who has the ability, in Hanafi school of thought, a person should have money beyond need and who can purchase an animal.”

Meanwhile, Mufti Shams al-Rahman Frotan, one of the religious scholars, told Pajhwok a person who met the conditions for a Qurbani was obliged to offer the sacrifice.

He said: “The conditions are that a person should be rich, can meet all his house needs and is not in debt and has cash worth 85 grams of gold or goods worth 85 grams of gold.”

He said if a person was in debt and owned no property, the Qurbani was not obligatory on him. “But still if he performs the ritual, his sacrifice is accepted”.

Also, Maulvi Mohammad Hasan Haqyar, another religious scholar, said that sacrificing animals on special days, including Eidul Adha, had reward from God.

He said conditions for giving Qurbani included the person must be a Muslim, a resident, and have a property.

Mustahab recommends Qurbani meat be divided into 3.

Dr Kawsar said Qurbani meat was divided into three parts and one of them was distributed among the poor.

About people who do not distribute the meat among the poor and needy, he said: “Although their Qurbani is accepted because they shed the blood for the sake of Allah (swt), but its reward is reduced.”

Meanwhile, Mufti Shams al-Rahman also says that it is recommended to divide the meat into three shares (one share should go to the family, one to the poor, and one share for the guests).

He added: “It is not a problem if e person eats all the meat; It is important that at the time of the slaughter to have the intention to please Allah.”

Frotan emphasized that the poor should be given sacrificial meat.

Also, Mohammad Hassan Haqyar said that the Qurbani meat should be divided into three parts and one part should remain with the family, one part should be offered to guests and close friends, and the last part should be given to the poor and needy.

The experts say it is better to distribute the meat to the poor and the needy equally.

Which animal suitable for Qurbani?

Maulvi Mohammad Hassan Haqyar said that sheep could be slaughtered individually, but large animals such as cows and camels could be shared by up to seven people.

According to him, the sacrifice can be performed after Eid prayers until the evening of the third day of Eid.

He also said animal chosen for the sacrifice should not be disabled or weak, but should be healthy.