How to Distribute Qurbani Meat? The Islamic 3 Parts Rule
Once you've performed the obligatory Qurbani (Udhiyah), the next question is usually a practical one: how much of the meat should you keep, and how much should you give away?
💡 Is the 1/3 split actually mandatory (Fard)?
No — it's Mustahab, not Fard. Fiqh leaves room here for real-life situations:
- If you have a large family and a modest income, it's perfectly fine to keep all the meat for your own household.
- If you're well-off and don't need any of it, you can give away the entire animal in charity instead.
❌ A Common Mistake: Paying the Butcher in Meat
It's a surprisingly common practice, and it's Haram — giving the butcher the skin, head, trotters, or any part of the meat as his wages for slaughtering the animal.
The butcher's labor fee should be paid in cash, agreed beforehand. You can still give him some meat afterward, but as a separate gift or act of charity — never as payment for the work itself.
📝 Common Questions on Qurbani Meat Distribution
1. Can I give Qurbani meat to a non-Muslim?
Yes. The majority of scholars, including the Hanafi school, consider it permissible — and a good gesture — to give Qurbani meat to non-Muslim neighbors, colleagues, or friends.
2. What should I do with the skin (hide) of the animal?
Two options: keep it for your own household use, or give it away to charity. If you sell it for cash, that money isn't yours to keep — it has to go to the poor as Sadaqah.
3. Can I store Qurbani meat in the freezer for months?
Yes. Early in Islam, the Prophet (ﷺ) temporarily told people not to store meat beyond 3 days, because of a famine that year and to make sure the hungry were fed. Once the famine passed, that restriction was lifted, and storing meat for as long as you like is fine.
4. Can I sell Qurbani meat?
No. Selling any part of the sacrificed animal — meat, fat, bones, or skin — for personal profit isn't allowed. It's an act of worship, not a transaction. Extra meat should be given away, not sold.
5. Can I send my Qurbani money abroad instead of doing it locally?
Many scholars allow this — if you're in a country where it's hard to find people who genuinely need the meat, sending your Qurbani contribution to a charity that performs it on your behalf in a place with real need is a widely accepted option.
Have You Calculated Your Zakat Before Eid?
Eid-ul-Adha is also a good reminder to check your annual Zakat on savings and gold, if you haven't already.
🧮 Open Zakat Calculator 📚 Browse Encyclopedia