Qurbani Valid If Sending Money Abroad for the Animal

Question

If I send money overseas for Qurbani, but their Eid prayer is later than ours, is my sacrifice still valid?

Bottom Line

Follow the place of slaughter: after their Eid prayer, within 10–13 Dhul-Hijjah, you’re good.

Quick Answer

Qurbani done abroad on your behalf is valid so long as it’s slaughtered after the Eid prayer in the country of sacrifice and within the days of sacrifice (10th–13th Dhul-Hijjah). Your local prayer time doesn’t control theirs.

Key Takeaways

• Timing follows the location of slaughter, not the sender’s city.
• Must be after the local Eid prayer and within 10–13 Dhul-Hijjah (Ayyām al-Tashrīq).
• Delegating Qurbani abroad is permissible and fulfills the worship.

Detailed Answer

It is better for a person to slaughter his udhiyah himself, because of the report narrated by Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sacrificed two horned black and white rams, placing his foot on their sides; he said the name of Allah and said takbir, and slaughtered them with his own hand. Narrated by al-Bukhari 5558 and Muslim 1966

It is permissible to appoint someone to slaughter the sacrifice on one’s behalf, even without a reason to do so, because of the report narrated by Jabir according to which the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) slaughtered sixty-three [animals] with his own hand. Then he handed it over to `Ali, who slaughtered the rest. Narrated by Muslim 1218

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The first thing we do on this day (Eid al-Adha) is pray; then we return and slaughter the sacrifice. Whoever does this has acted according to our Sunnah.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 5545

This establishes the rule: slaughter comes after the Eid prayer. When you appoint an agent or charity overseas, the valid time is set by their Eid prayer, because that’s where the act of worship occurs.

Days of sacrifice

Qurbani is offered from the 10th through the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. Anything before the local Eid prayer is invalid; anything after, and within these days, meets the time window.

Delegating the sacrifice

Appointing a person or organization in another country is permissible. The worship is attributed to you, but the procedural conditions (time, place, slaughter act) follow the site where the animal is sacrificed.

Scholarly guidance

Contemporary jurists clarified that if the sacrifice is done after the Eid prayer in the place of slaughter and within the tashrīq days, it is sufficient, even if your city prayed earlier.

What This Means for You

Sending Qurbani money abroad is fine. Just ensure your agent slaughters after their Eid prayer, within 10–13 Dhul-Hijjah. You fulfill your worship and help communities in need.

And Allah knows best.

References

Primary Sources

Qur’an

1. Al-Hajj 22:36: Verses concerning sacrificial animals.

Hadith

2. Sahih al-Bukhari 5545: Pray first, then slaughter.

Secondary Sources

3. Ibn ʿUthaymīn, Fatawa 25/86: Validity of appointing an agent abroad; timing follows the place of slaughter.