Questions and Answers

Performance of Qurbani for husband and wife

Question: When performing Qurbani, can you give some insight on the husband and wife. Should you perform for both? Also, can the meat of Qurbaani be given to a non Muslim?

Answer: The Qurbani is Wajib (essential) upon those who can afford to do it and are not travellers. In this regard, a tradition states that Abu Hurairah (r.a) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.s) said, 'Whoever can afford to do the sacrifice and yet does not do it should not come to our place of performing salaah (i.e. the Eid Salaah). These are strong and stern words which have been used against a person who neglects doing the sacrifice although he/she has the ability to do so. The scholars have stated that such words are not normally used for anything which is less than being an essential act.

As such if your wife has the ability to do a sacrifice then she must do it. With respect to what is considered as 'having the ability', many scholars have stated that when one possesses the Nisaab of Zakaah during the days of Qurbani, then he/she will be deemed to be as having the ability.

And concerning the meat, YES it is permissible to give the Qurbani meat to non Muslims.

And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan