The Committed Believer · Sacrifice & the Newborn

Sacrifice Rules and Shared Offerings

Test your knowledge on rules for shared sacrifices during Eid al-Adha.

6 questions · Medium · about 4 minutes

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6 questions, about 4 minutes.

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1. If a man has more than one wife, how many sacrifices are sufficient for him and his family?

  • One sacrifice is sufficient for his family. (correct answer)
  • One sacrifice is required for each wife.
  • Each wife must offer a separate sacrifice.
  • The number depends only on the size of the family.

Why

One sacrifice is sufficient for a man and the members of his family, even if the family is large. The Prophet ﷺ left behind multiple wives, yet there is no report that he instructed each wife to offer a separate sacrifice. If one person is the head of both households, one sacrifice is sufficient, though offering a separate sacrifice for each house may be better.

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2. If seven people share a cow or camel for udhiyah and one partner secretly uses haraam wealth, what is the ruling for the others?

  • Their sacrifice is not affected if they did not know. (correct answer)
  • The sacrifice is invalid for all seven.
  • The majority’s halal wealth makes the haraam contribution permissible.
  • They must repeat the sacrifice even if unaware.

Why

Seven people may share in a camel or cow for udhiyah. If one of the partners uses haraam wealth and the others were unaware, that does not affect their shares, because each person is responsible for their own actions. But if the others know that a partner is using haraam wealth, they should not help him dispose of it or benefit from it; rather, they should denounce the wrongdoing.

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3. If two brothers live together and their father spends on both of them, may one udhiyah be offered on behalf of both brothers?

  • Yes, if they are part of the same household. (correct answer)
  • No, each brother must always offer his own udhiyah.
  • Only if they contribute exactly equal amounts.
  • Only if their father personally slaughters it.

Why

One udhiyah may be offered on behalf of a man and the members of his household. Household members include relatives who live in the same house and are supported by the head of the household, or who share expenses and food. Therefore, if two brothers live together and their father spends on them both, one udhiyah is acceptable on behalf of both, whether one of them buys it or they buy it together. If a relative lives separately or spends separately, that person should offer their own udhiyah.

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4. When does the time for offering udhiyah begin?

  • After the Eid prayer on Eid al-Adha. (correct answer)
  • At the beginning of Dhu’l-Hijjah.
  • At sunrise before the Eid prayer.
  • Only after sunset on the day of Eid.

Why

The time for offering udhiyah begins after the Eid prayer on Eid al-Adha and ends at sunset on the thirteenth of Dhu’l-Hijjah. Thus, there are four days of sacrifice: the day of Eid and the three days after it. It is better to hasten to offer the sacrifice after the Eid prayer. Slaughtering before the Eid prayer is over, or after sunset on the thirteenth without an excuse, does not count as udhiyah.

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5. What is the recommended way to distribute a sacrifice?

  • Eat one third, give one third as gifts, and give one third in charity. (correct answer)
  • Give all of it to the people who paid for the animal.
  • Sell the meat and divide the money.
  • Give the head only to the poor and keep the rest.

Why

It is Sunnah to eat from the sacrifice, give some as gifts, and give some in charity. The recommended division mentioned is one third for eating, one third as gifts, and one third in charity, though eating from it is not obligatory according to the majority. When several people share in a cow or camel, each cow must be identified for the specific seven participants at the time of slaughter, and some meat from each cow must be set aside for charity rather than all of it going only to the sharers.

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6. Who should refrain from cutting hair or nails after the new moon of Dhu’l-Hijjah if an udhiyah will be offered?

  • The person who is offering the udhiyah from their own wealth. (correct answer)
  • Every family member included in the reward.
  • Only the person appointed to slaughter it.
  • Only the poor people who will receive the meat.

Why

When the new moon of Dhu’l-Hijjah appears, the person who intends to offer the udhiyah should not remove hair, nails, or skin until the sacrifice is offered. This ruling applies to the one offering the sacrifice, meaning the owner of the sacrificial animal. It does not apply to family members on whose behalf the sacrifice is being offered, nor to someone merely appointed to slaughter or distribute the meat.

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A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

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