Have you ever wondered whom you should give the meat from a sacrifice (qurbani)? Here we examine the status of sacrificial meat in Islam, the Quran, and the traditions. This will help you know precisely to whom you should distribute sacrificial meat.
In Islam, sacrificial meat is usually divided among three categories of recipients:
Family: One third of the sacrificial meat is for you and your household. This allows you to use the meat at home.
Friends and neighbors: Another third should be distributed among friends, neighbors, and those who live near you. This strengthens social bonds and sharing.
The needy and poor: The final third is given to the needy and indigent in the community. You may deliver this portion as food aid through charities, charitable institutions, mosques, hospitals, or directly to people in need.
For precise guidance about dividing sacrificial meat in your context, it is best to consult recognized religious authorities and juristic sources.
“Sacrificial meat” refers to the flesh of an animal slaughtered as a rite in religious festivals and ceremonies, particularly in Islam, to express submission and gratitude to God and to distribute to some of the needy.
At the festival of Eid al-Adha (al-Adha), Muslims slaughter an animal (commonly a sheep or a cow) and divide its meat. This act of sacrifice is performed in various ways worldwide and is regarded as part of religious devotion.
After slaughter and preparation, the sacrificial meat is typically divided into three parts: one third for oneself and family, one third for friends and neighbors, and the remaining third for the needy and indigent. This distribution is rooted in narrations and religious principles.
The Qur’an refers to sacrifice in several places. One of the important verses on sacrifice appears in Sūrah al-Ḥajj (22:37):
“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but piety from you reaches Him. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allah for what He has guided you. And give good tidings to the doers of good.”
(Qur’an 22:37, approximate English rendering)
This verse indicates that the meat and blood of sacrificed animals do not reach God; rather, what is accepted by God is the piety (taqwa) of the worshipers. Sacrifice is a sign of submission and obedience to God and an opportunity to share blessings.
Another concise instruction occurs in Sūrah al-Kawthar (108:2):
“So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].”
(Qur’an 108:2, approximate English rendering)
The Qur’an mentions sacrifice in other passages as well. For example, in Sūrah al-Baqarah (2:196) the text addresses completing Hajj and the sacrificial rites associated with pilgrimage rites. Sūrah al-Ḥajj also contains several verses emphasizing sacrificial rites and their social purpose, for instance:
Sūrah al-Ḥajj (22:34): every community has made its rites so that they may remember God for what He has provided of sacrificial animals; it exhorts believers to submit to God and gives glad tidings to the humble.
Sūrah al-Ḥajj (22:36): the sacrificial animals are among the symbols of God; when their flanks fall (i.e., at their appointed place), then eat from them and feed the needy and the beggar. God has subjected them to you so that you may give thanks.
Sūrah al-An‘ām (6:162): “Say, ‘Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.’” — highlighting that worship and sacrifice are for God alone.
Sūrah al-Ḥajj (22:28): to let people witness the benefits for them and remember the name of God on known days for what He has provided of sacrificial animals, and to eat from them and feed the poor and the needy.
These Qur’anic verses frame sacrifice as a ritual of remembrance, gratitude, and communal care. For a deeper, more precise understanding consult tafsir (Qur’anic exegesis) and juristic discussions.
Sacrifice is strongly recommended in the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Ahl al-Bayt in Islamic sources. It is emphasized as an act of worship. Notable references include:
The narrative of Abraham’s (Ibrahim’s) willingness to sacrifice his son (Isma'il) — a foundational story cited in the Qur’an — which exemplifies obedience. God ultimately provided a ram as the substitute. That story is invoked as a model of submission.
Traditions report that the Prophet and the Imams performed sacrifices, and Muslims are encouraged to perform sacrifices during the Eid al-Adha period. The ritual emphasizes obedience to God and distributing meat to the poor.
Other narrations specify recommended timings and occasions: for example, sacrificing at Arafah during Hajj, in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah for Eid al-Adha, and on certain religious commemorations. Some communities also practice sacrificial rites on other significant days (traditionally or locally).
Day of Arafah: Pilgrims at Arafah perform rites associated with sacrifice.
Dhu al-Hijjah (Eid al-Adha): The month and the festival most closely associated with the sacrificial ritual.
Religious occasions and commemorations: Some groups perform sacrifices on occasions such as Ashura or Eid al-Ghadeer as an expression of devotion or remembrance; the practice varies by tradition.
The narrations and traditions that inform these practices developed within Islamic history and culture. They emphasize that sacrifice is an act of worship and community solidarity. For detailed jurisprudential rulings and practical questions, consult classical and contemporary juristic sources and qualified scholars.
As noted earlier, common guidance recommends distributing sacrificial meat among family, friends/neighbors, and the needy. The Qur’anic verses and Prophetic practice encourage sharing the meat and ensuring that the poor benefit from these rituals.
In some traditions or communities, people also perform sacrifices on other days such as Ashura or Eid al-Ghadeer as expressions of devotion or remembrance, often with the same intention of distributing food and commemorating significant events.
The above summary presents the general theological and practical framework for sacrifice in Islam — its symbolic meaning in the Qur’an, its place in the prophetic and imamic traditions, and the customary division and distribution of sacrificial meat. For applied rulings tailored to particular legal or local questions, it is advisable to consult recognized juristic authorities or local religious scholars.
