When we lose someone we love, the pain can feel impossible to put into words. A parent who raised us, a spouse who walked beside us, a child who filled our home with laughter their absence leaves a void that nothing in this world can truly fill. Yet Islam, in its infinite wisdom, offers us something beautiful: a way to keep giving to those we have lost, even after they are gone.
One of the most powerful and meaningful acts of worship you can perform for a deceased loved one is offering Qurbani — the sacrifice of an animal on their behalf during Eid ul-Adha. This single act carries the weight of mercy, remembrance, and unbroken love.
At Al-Firdous UK, we have been blessed to fulfil Qurbani on behalf of thousands of departed souls, delivering fresh meat to families in need across some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. In this blog, we want to walk you through everything you need to know about this sacred practice — why it matters, what Islam says about it, and how you can participate this Eid.
What is Qurbani?
Qurbani (also spelled Qurban or Udhiyah) is the ritual sacrifice of a livestock animal — most commonly a goat, sheep, cow, or camel — performed during the days of Eid ul-Adha. It commemorates the incredible act of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), who was willing to sacrifice his own son Ismail (AS) in obedience to Allah’s command. Allah, in His infinite mercy, replaced Ismail with a ram at the last moment — and ever since, Muslims around the world have honoured this story through sacrifice.
Qurbani is performed on the 10th, 11th, or 12th of Dhul Hijjah — the final month of the Islamic calendar. The meat is divided into three equal portions: one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for those in need.
It is one of the most important acts of worship in Islam and an annual reminder that everything we have belongs to Allah, and that obedience to Him is the highest act of love.
Can you perform Qurbani on behalf of someone who has passed away?
This is one of the most common questions we receive, and the answer — according to the majority of Islamic scholars — is a warm and resounding yes.
“When a person dies, all their deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity (Sadaqa Jariyah), beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who prays for them.” — Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Sahih Muslim)
While Qurbani is not mentioned specifically in this hadith, scholars across all four major madhabs agree that performing Qurbani on behalf of a deceased person is permissible and a beautiful act of charity in their honour. The Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools of thought all support this view, with minor variations in detail.
The scholarly consensus is based on the principle that righteous deeds performed with sincere intention for the benefit of a deceased Muslim can reach them and earn them reward with Allah. Just as you can recite Quran for the deceased, give Sadaqa on their behalf, or perform Hajj for them — you can also offer Qurbani for them.
What scholars say
Imam Ibn Qudama, one of the great Hanbali scholars, wrote that a person may slaughter on behalf of deceased Muslims with the intention of passing on the reward to them, and this reward shall reach them by the will of Allah. This view is widely accepted across Islamic scholarship.
Why performing Qurbani for the deceased is such a powerful act
Think about what happens in the moments after a person passes away. The world moves on. Their name appears less in conversations. Their phone goes unanswered. But in the hearts of those who loved them, they are never truly gone.
Performing Qurbani on their behalf is more than a ritual — it is a declaration. It says: I still remember you. I still love you. I am still making du’a for you. And I want goodness to reach you, even now.
There is something deeply comforting in knowing that your act of worship here on earth can send light and reward to the soul of someone resting in the akhirah. It is one of the most intimate acts of love a living person can offer to the dead.
And there is a second layer of beauty here — your Qurbani feeds hungry families. Real people. Mothers, children, elderly men and women who may not have tasted meat in months. So your loved one’s sacrifice becomes a source of joy, nourishment, and relief for those in desperate need. What a legacy to leave behind.
Who can you perform Qurbani for?
You can perform Qurbani on behalf of any deceased Muslim, including:
A parent or grandparent who has passed away. A spouse. A sibling or child. A close friend. Even someone you never met personally but wish to honour — such as the Prophet ﷺ himself, as some scholars have noted he used to sacrifice on behalf of those in his Ummah who could not do so themselves.
There is no limit to how many people you can include in a single Qurbani, particularly when sharing a large animal such as a cow or camel. A cow, for instance, can be shared among up to seven people — meaning seven different intentions can be made, for seven living or deceased individuals.
It is worth noting that you do not need to have been personally responsible for that individual during their lifetime. Any sincere Muslim who wishes to gift the reward of Qurbani to a departed soul may do so, with clean intention and a hopeful heart.
How to make your intention (niyyah) for Qurbani on behalf of the deceased
Intention in Islam is everything. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, actions are by intentions, and every person shall have what they intended.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
When donating or performing Qurbani on behalf of a deceased person, your intention should be clear and sincere in your heart. You do not need to say any specific formula out loud — though you may certainly do so. A simple heartfelt intention such as: “O Allah, I offer this Qurbani on behalf of my mother (may You have mercy on her soul). Please accept it from me and grant her its reward” — is entirely sufficient.
What matters most is sincerity, not a specific set of Arabic words. Allah knows what is in your heart, and that is where your niyyah truly lives.
How Al-Firdous UK handles your Qurbani
At Al-Firdous UK, we understand the weight and sacredness of this trust. When you donate your Qurbani through us, we treat it with the full dignity it deserves — because we know it carries the name of someone you love.
We work with trusted, verified partners in regions where Qurbani meat is most needed — including parts of South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and communities across the UK. Every animal is slaughtered according to full Islamic guidelines during the three days of Eid ul-Adha, by qualified individuals who understand the sacred nature of this act.
We operate on a 100% donation policy. This means every penny of your Qurbani donation goes directly towards the sacrifice and its distribution. We do not skim a management fee from your charity. Your full donation fulfils the full act.
Our promise to you
When you donate Qurbani through Al-Firdous UK, your sacrifice reaches real families in real need. Fresh meat is distributed fairly, with dignity and care. You will know that your loved one’s name is attached to an act that brought real nourishment and real joy to someone who truly needed it.
The wider impact: feeding families who have almost nothing
It is easy to forget, living in the comfort of a country like the UK, just how significant a piece of meat can be for a family in a struggling community. For millions of people around the world, Eid ul-Adha is the only time of year they eat meat. The rest of the year is dried lentils, plain bread, and whatever little they can find.
When you give Qurbani through Al-Firdous, you are not just fulfilling a religious obligation — you are changing the atmosphere of someone’s Eid. You are putting food on a table that is usually bare. You are making a child’s eyes light up. You are giving a widow a reason to feel, just for a moment, that the world has not forgotten her.
This is the power of Qurbani. And when it is done in the name of someone you love who has passed away — it multiplies. It is your love for them, turned into bread for someone else’s table.
FAQs
Is it obligatory (wajib) to do Qurbani for the deceased?
No, performing Qurbani for a deceased person is not obligatory — it is a voluntary, deeply rewarding act. However, if a deceased person made a bequest (wasiyyah) that Qurbani should be performed after their death, it becomes obligatory to fulfil that wish.
Does performing Qurbani for the deceased affect my own Qurbani obligation?
No. If Qurbani is obligatory for you personally (i.e. you are an adult Muslim, mentally sound, and above the nisab threshold), you must still perform your own Qurbani first. Performing one for a deceased person is a separate, additional act.
Can I perform Qurbani for more than one deceased person?
Yes. As mentioned, a cow or camel can accommodate up to seven shares. You can dedicate different shares to different people — some living, some deceased — with individual intentions for each.
Does the Qurbani have to be performed in the same country where the deceased is buried?
No. The sacrifice can be performed anywhere in the world. What matters is the intention and that the act is carried out during the correct days of Dhul Hijjah.
A final word: love that outlives this world
Grief changes over time. The sharpness softens. Daily life takes over. But the love — the love stays. And Islam gives us a remarkable gift: the ability to act on that love even when the person is no longer here.
Performing Qurbani on behalf of your deceased loved one this Eid is not just a ritual. It is a conversation between two worlds. It is you saying to someone in the akhirah: I have not forgotten you. You still matter. And as long as I am here, I will keep sending goodness your way.
At Al-Firdous UK, we are honoured to be the bridge that carries that goodness — from your hands, to the needy, and in the name of your beloved.
May Allah accept your Qurbani, shower His mercy upon your loved ones, and bless your family with a beautiful and meaningful Eid ul-Adha.
Donate Qurbani on behalf of your loved one today
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