The Qurbani Dua: The Words and Meaning of the Sacrifice Dua and What to Recite When Slaughtering

The qurbani dua is the common name in everyday usage for the verses recited when the sacrifice is slaughtered, the basmala and the takbir, and the dua of acceptance made after the slaughter. The same order of dua is used for the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha, for the sacrifice during Hajj and for the aqiqah and vow sacrifices; but which of these duas is necessary and which is Sunnah is often confused. In this article we have gathered the words and meaning of the dua for slaughtering the sacrifice, the ruling of the basmala and the takbir, the dua recited after the slaughter and the prayer of thanks, who recites the dua when the sacrifice is slaughtered by proxy, the difference between the Hajj sacrifice and the Eid sacrifice, and the etiquette of slaughter, following the explanations of Diyanet (Türkiye’s Presidency of Religious Affairs).

What Is the Qurbani Dua?

The qurbani dua is not a single text; it consists of two groups of verses recited before the slaughter, the basmala and takbir said at the moment of slaughter, and the dua of acceptance made after it. Among these, the only element that is religiously required is saying the basmala at the moment of slaughter; the verses and the dua of acceptance are Sunnah or recommended. When people speak of “the qurbani dua” they usually mean verse 79 of Surah al-An’am together with verses 162 and 163; these verses declare that the sacrifice is made for Allah alone. The sacrifice itself is, according to the Hanafi school, necessary (wajib) for every Muslim who is counted as wealthy in religious terms; the dua is a Sunnah order accompanying the performance of this necessary act. The same order of dua applies to every sacrifice slaughtered from the first day of Eid al-Adha until the evening of the third day; the dua does not change whether the slaughter is done by proxy or at Mina during Hajj. The purpose of the dua is to turn the moment of slaughter from a butcher’s task into an act of worship performed with the intention of drawing near to Allah; the very word “qurban”, meaning “to draw near”, expresses this.

What is said when slaughtering the sacrifice?

The required words when slaughtering the sacrifice are the takbir “Bismillahi Allahu akbar”; the basmala is necessary according to the Hanafi school. Reciting verse 79 and verses 162 and 163 of Surah al-An’am just before the slaughter, and making dua after it in the sense of “O Allah, accept this from me”, is in keeping with the Sunnah. The duas need not be recited in Arabic; their meaning may also be said in Turkish or English.

The Words and Meaning of the Dua for Slaughtering the Sacrifice

After the animal has been laid facing the qiblah, the person performing the slaughter or the owner of the sacrifice first recites this verse:

Words: İnnî veccehtü vechiye lillezî fatara’s-semâvâti ve’l-arda hanîfen ve mâ ene mine’l-müşrikîn. (Inni wajjahtu wajhiya lilladhi fatara s-samawati wa l-arda hanifan wa ma ana mina l-mushrikin.) (al-An’am, 6:79)

Meaning: I have turned my face, inclining towards the truth, to Him who created the heavens and the earth; and I am not of those who associate partners with Allah.

Then the verses declaring that the sacrifice is made for Allah alone are recited:

Words: İnne salâtî ve nüsükî ve mahyâye ve memâtî lillâhi rabbi’l-âlemîn. Lâ şerîke leh, ve bi-zâlike ümirtü ve ene evvelü’l-müslimîn. (Inna salati wa nusuki wa mahyaya wa mamati lillahi rabbi l-‘alamin. La sharika lah, wa bidhalika umirtu wa ana awwalu l-muslimin.) (al-An’am, 6:162–163)

Meaning: Truly my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds. He has no partner; so I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.

After these verses, “Allahumma hadha minka wa laka” (O Allah, this is from You and for You) is said, and the animal is slaughtered with the words “Bismillahi Allahu akbar” at the moment of slaughter. Scholars who regard the phrase “awwalu l-muslimin” at the end of the verse as particular to the Prophet (peace be upon him) have preferred that the owner of the sacrifice say “wa ana mina l-muslimin” (and I am of the Muslims); Diyanet gives both readings.

The Ruling of the Basmala and the Takbir

Saying the basmala when slaughtering the sacrifice is necessary (wajib) according to the Hanafi school; if the slaughterer deliberately omits the basmala, the meat of the slaughtered animal may not be eaten. If it is omitted by forgetfulness, the meat is lawful, because the ruling depends on intent. The basmala is said by the person doing the slaughtering; if the owner of the sacrifice is not taking part in the slaughter, the owner need not say anything in addition. The takbir “Allahu akbar” is Sunnah and is said together with the basmala. According to the Shafi’i school the basmala is Sunnah; if it is omitted, the meat may still be eaten.

If the basmala is forgotten, may the sacrifice be eaten?

According to the Hanafi school, if the basmala was omitted by forgetfulness, eating the meat of the sacrifice is lawful; but if it was deliberately omitted, the meat may not be eaten. What is essential is that the person doing the slaughtering is a Muslim or one of the People of the Book and says the basmala at the moment of slaughter. If there was any doubt during the slaughter, the best course is to ask the mufti’s office.

The Dua Recited After the Slaughter and the Prayer of Thanks

When slaughtering the sacrifice, the Prophet (peace be upon him) made dua in the sense of “In the name of Allah; O Allah, accept this from Muhammad, from the family of Muhammad and from his community”; this narration appears in Muslim. Following this example, after the slaughter the owner of the sacrifice or their proxy recites this dua:

Words: Allâhümme tekabbel minnî (for more than one person: minnâ) kemâ tekabbelte min halîlike İbrâhîm ve habîbike Muhammed. (Allahumma taqabbal minni / minna kama taqabbalta min khalilika Ibrahim wa habibika Muhammad.)

Meaning: O Allah, accept from me (from us) as You accepted from Your friend Ibrahim and Your beloved Muhammad.

It is recommended to perform two rak’ahs of prayer of thanks after the sacrifice has been slaughtered; after the prayer you may recite al-Fatihah and al-Ikhlas, dedicate the reward of the sacrifice to your loved ones and make dua for the household. Dividing the meat of the sacrifice into three, with one part for those in need, one part for neighbours and relatives and one part for the home, is also the sharing in keeping with the Sunnah. Throughout the days of Eid the takbirs of Tashriq are recited after the obligatory prayers; for the words and timing of the takbirs, see our article on the dua of the Day of Arafah.

How many rak’ahs of prayer are performed after the sacrifice?

Performing two rak’ahs of voluntary prayer of thanks after the sacrifice is recommended; it is not compulsory, and omitting it does not diminish the sacrifice. The prayer may be performed outside the disliked times, immediately after the slaughter or during the day. After the prayer, the dua of acceptance is made and the reward is dedicated.

Who Recites the Dua When the Sacrifice Is Slaughtered by Proxy?

For those who have their sacrifice slaughtered by giving proxy to an organisation or a person, the order of dua does not change; the basmala and takbir are said by the person doing the slaughtering, and the intention on behalf of the owner is made by the proxy. Even if the owner is not present at the moment of slaughter, the worship is valid; the slaughter is done in this way in the proxy sacrifice organisations of Diyanet and the Turkish Diyanet Foundation. The owner of the sacrifice may recite the dua of acceptance and perform the prayer of thanks where they are on the day of slaughter; when giving proxy, it is enough to state clearly on whose behalf the sacrifice will be slaughtered.

For proxy sacrifices slaughtered abroad, the slaughter is done according to the time and the day of Eid of that country; the Turkish Diyanet Foundation informs you by text message that the slaughter has been completed. Because in Türkiye the slaughter begins after the Eid prayer on the first day, the person who gave proxy may recite the dua of acceptance at any hour after the Eid prayer. Those who wish to receive a share of the meat should say so when giving proxy; otherwise the meat is distributed entirely to those in need, and this too is a choice in keeping with the Sunnah. The reward of a sacrifice slaughtered by proxy is no less than the reward gained by taking part in the slaughter; the essence of the worship is the intention.

Is it necessary to make dua when the sacrifice is slaughtered by proxy?

When the sacrifice is slaughtered by proxy, the basmala is said by the slaughterer; it is not compulsory for the owner to make a separate dua, but reciting the dua of acceptance and performing the prayer of thanks are recommended. If the intention and the person on whose behalf the sacrifice is made were stated when the proxy was given, not being present at the moment of slaughter does not affect the worship.

The Hajj Sacrifice and the Eid Sacrifice

The sacrifice slaughtered during Hajj (the hady) and the Eid sacrifice (the udhiyah) are different acts of worship. For those performing Tamattu’ and Qiran Hajj, the sacrifice of thanks is necessary and is slaughtered within the Haram region, in the abattoirs near Mina; pilgrims usually have this slaughtered by proxy through Diyanet or the agency. Because a person on Hajj is counted as a traveller according to the Hanafi school, it is not necessary for them to slaughter an Eid sacrifice; if they wish, they may have it slaughtered by giving proxy to their family in Türkiye. We explained where the Hajj sacrifice is slaughtered in our article on where Hajj is performed, and the other duas recited during Hajj in our article on Hajj duas.

The Dua for the Aqiqah, Vow and Thanks Sacrifices

The duas recited for the aqiqah, vow and thanks sacrifices are the same as for the Eid sacrifice; the difference is in the intention. For the aqiqah sacrifice the intention is made for the child, and dua is made in the sense of “O Allah, accept this sacrifice for our child so-and-so”. For the vow sacrifice the intention includes the subject of the vow, and the owner of the vow and those they are obliged to support may not eat its meat; the meat is distributed entirely to those in need. The sacrifice of thanks is slaughtered for a blessing attained, and its owner may also eat its meat. In all three the basmala is necessary, and the verses and the dua of acceptance are Sunnah.

How is the dua for the aqiqah sacrifice recited?

For the aqiqah sacrifice too, the same verses, basmala and takbir are recited; the intention is made by mentioning the child’s name, and after the slaughter dua is made in the sense of “O Allah, accept this aqiqah for our child, make them a righteous child”. It is Sunnah to slaughter one sacrifice for a girl and two for a boy; those without the means may be content with a single sacrifice.

Preparing for the Day of Slaughter and Memorising the Dua

Although the qurbani dua is short, it can be forgotten in the bustle of the moment of slaughter; a few days of preparation before Eid is enough. The sacrifice guides published by Diyanet and the talks given by mosque officials before Eid are the most reliable sources for learning the dua with the correct pronunciation. The preparation list below is recommended for getting through both the dua and the slaughter without trouble:

• Revise the words and meaning of verses 79 and 162–163 of Surah al-An’am a week before Eid; those who cannot memorise them may write them down and read them at the slaughter.
• Remind the slaughterer before the slaughter that the basmala and takbir are to be said at the moment of slaughter and must not be forgotten.
• Explain the meaning of the dua of acceptance to the family; children watching the sacrifice knowing why it is made is the educational side of the worship.
• If you are giving proxy, find out the organisation’s day of slaughter and recite the dua of acceptance and perform the prayer of thanks on that day.
• Prepare the place of slaughter, the knives, rope and cleaning materials in advance; check the municipal slaughter places and times.

The Etiquette of Slaughter

Alongside the dua, the manner of slaughter is also part of the worship. The Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded that the animal be treated well and that the knife be sharp. The order to be followed in the slaughter is as follows:

1. The animal is led to the place of slaughter without being hurt; the knife is not sharpened in front of the animal, and one animal is not slaughtered in front of another.
2. The animal is laid on its left side with its head towards the qiblah; its legs are tied, and the right hind leg may be left free.
3. The verses and “Allahumma hadha minka wa laka” are recited, and the owner of the sacrifice makes the intention.
4. With the words “Bismillahi Allahu akbar” the gullet, the windpipe and the two jugular veins are cut in a single stroke.
5. The blood is allowed to drain completely; skinning and cutting up are not begun until the animal is motionless.
6. After the slaughter the dua of acceptance is recited, two rak’ahs of prayer of thanks are performed and the meat is shared out.

Important: In places where the Eid prayer is performed, the sacrifice is slaughtered after the Eid prayer; an animal slaughtered before the prayer does not count as the Eid sacrifice. The period of slaughter lasts until the evening of the third day of Eid according to the Hanafi school, and until the evening of the fourth day according to the Shafi’i school.

When is the sacrifice slaughtered?

The Eid sacrifice is slaughtered from after the Eid prayer on the first day of Eid al-Adha until the evening of the third day according to the Hanafi school; according to the Shafi’i school the period extends to the evening of the fourth day. In places where the Eid prayer is not performed, the slaughter begins with the entry of the time of the morning prayer. The Hajj sacrifice is also slaughtered on the same days in the Haram region.

Reciting the Qurbani Dua with Understanding

The essence of the qurbani dua is what the verses of Surah al-An’am say: prayer, sacrifice, living and dying are for Allah alone. The sacrifice is the memory of the Prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son for Allah; for this reason the name of Ibrahim is mentioned in the dua of acceptance. Reciting the dua in its Arabic original is good, but rather than repeating it without knowing its meaning, it is also permissible to say its meaning in your own language; according to Diyanet, what matters is the intention, and dua may be made in any language.

At RotaNur we explain the proxy arrangements for the Hajj sacrifice and the flow of the days of Eid with a guide in our Hajj programmes; for the programmes see our Hajj tours page, and for your questions write to us 24/7 from our contact page or the WhatsApp button on this page.

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