Simplified rules for Qurbani according to the Shafi’ee Madhab

1.  To perform Udhiya or Qurbani is Sunnatul Ain Muakiddah (a confirmed Sunnah upon an individual). The person must have the financial means to carry out the Sunnah and a poor person is absolved therefrom. The person doing the Qurbani must have sufficient funds to purchase the animal. In other words his funds must be in excess of what he requires for his necessities.

2. It is Sunnatul Kifaaya on a family or families where the expense for the households is paid by one person.

3. If the person responsible for the family makes the Qurbani, then effectively, the Sunnah is completed for all under his care, even if there are others who have the means to do Qurbani.

4. It is Makruh Tanzeeh for one who intends to do Qurbani to remove any hair from their body or to clip the nails from the sighting of the new moon of the month of Zil-Hajj till after the Qurbani is completed.

5. The time for Udhiya or Qurbani begins after the sun has risen on the day of Eidul Adha and that time in which two Rakaats can be performed and two Khutbas can be recited, has passed. The Qurbani can be made on the day of Eid as well as the remaining days of Tashreeq (the three days after the day of Eidul Adha) and its time ends with the setting of the sun on the third day.

‎6. The Qurbani animal should be a camel, cow/ox, goat or sheep. A camel should be over five years of age while cattle and goats should be over two years. Sheep should be over a year old.

7. A camel or cow/ox fulfils the Sunnah of seven people and their families while a goat or sheep fulfils it for one person and his/her family.

8. It is better to slaughter a single animal than to have a share in a camel or cattle.‎

9. The best animal to slaughter is a camel, then an ox or cow, then a sheep and finally a goat. The best colour for the sheep or goat is white, then tawny-coloured (brownish), then black and white and then black.

‎10. The animal should be free of defects. It is not permissible to slaughter an animal that is:

• Lame 
• Blind or one-eyed 
• A sick animal 
• Deranged because of hunger or insane 
• Mangy or covered in scabs 
• An ear that has been cut off or with a piece cut off. (If it has a slit in the ear for identification purposes then it may be slaughtered)‎. 
• It should not be missing a significant part of its haunch or any meat bearing portion. 
• It should not have a broken or missing horn. 

11. It is better to slaughter ones animal by oneself if you are able to slaughter properly. If you are unable to slaughter properly then it is obligatory to appoint someone who is able to do so and one must witness the slaughter being carried out.‎

‎12. It is obligatory to make the Niyyah for the sacrifice at the time of slaughter. The following intention can be made:

اللهم إنى جعلت هذا الحیوان ضحية

Allahumma Innee Ja’altu Hadhal Haywaana Daheeya

Oh Allah I made this animal one for sacrifice

If the intention is made at the time one appoints someone else to do the slaughter, then that would suffice.‎

13. It is Mustahab (desirable) for the one slaughtering to face the Qibla and also to face the animal he is about to slaughter towards the Qibla as well.‎

14. It is recommended to thrust the knife into‎ the base of a camels neck while it is standing with one of its front legs tied up.

15. A cow or bull or goats and sheep should be placed on its left side with its legs bound except the right hind leg.‎ The slaughterer should hold the knife in his right hand and hold the animal’s head with his left. The knife should be sharp.

16. The Tasmiyah (Bismillah) should be recited at the time of slaughter.‎ Along with the Tasmiyah it is Sunnah to recite Durood on the Holy Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam, to recite Allahu Akbar three times and to say:

اللهم هذا منك وإليك فتقبل منى

Allahumma Hadha Minka Wa Ilayka Fa Taqbal Minnee

Oh Allah this is from you and (returns) to you, accept it from me

17. The cut should be swift and across the neck of the animal. The trachea (air pipe) and oesophagus (food pipe) should be completely severed . It is a condition that the knife should not be lifted off the neck before the above mentioned pipes are completely cut. If the knife is lifted and then returned to complete the cut of any of those two pipes the animal will not be Halaal. If any part of the trachea and oesophagus is left uncut, the animal is not considered Halaal. ‎It is a Sunnah to also cut the carotid artery and jugular vein. 

18. It is Makrooh (disliked) to sharpen the knife in front of the animal.

19. The animal should not see the preceding animal being slaughtered. 

20. It is recommended that a third of the sacrificed animal be kept for oneself, a third be given to (family and friends) and a third be given in charity.‎

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