ON WHOM IS QURBANI WAAJIB?

1. Qurbani is Waajib on all Muslims (male and female) who are sane, Baaligh (have reached the age of puberty) and are the possessors of minimum Zakatable wealth (Nisab) i.e. about $ 230,00. It is not necessary that the ownership of such wealth be for a full year.
2. Qurbani is Waajib on a man for himself only, not for his wife and children. However, it is his duty to see that his wife’s and grown-up (Baaligh) children’s Qurbani are made if they are possessors of Nisaab. If he makes their Qurbani out of his wealth with their permission, their Qurbani will be valid.
3. Qurbani is not Waajib on poor people (who do not possess wealth equal to Nisaab) nor on travellers (Musaafirs) nor on minors. If a minor reaches the age of puberty or a Musaafir becomes a Muqeem, i.e. by completing his journey or intending to stay in one place for 15 days or more, before the sunset of the 12th Zil Hijjah, then Qurbani is Waajib on them.
4. Qurbani on behalf of a deceased person is Waajib if he had made a Wasiyyat that it should be undertaken from his wealth, provided the cost does not exceed one third of his net estate.
5. Qurbani is Waajib on a person who makes a Nazr (Vow), i.e. if a certain work of mine is carried out I will make Qurbani, then Qurbani becomes Waajib on him when that task is accomplished. This Qurbani must be carried out in the days of Qurbani, unless it is generally excepted and understood that merely slaughtering an animal on ANY DAY is referred to as Qurbani, and this had been the intention of the person who made a vow, then it will be permissible for him to sacrifice an animal on any day.
6. If a poor person buys an animal during the days of Qurbani, with the intention of Qurbani then it becomes Waajib upon him to sacrifice this animal. However, if this animal dies or gets lost, Qurbani will not remain Waajib on him. It will not be necessary for him to buy another animal. If he buys another animal and thereafter the first one is found, it becomes Waajib upon him to sacrifice both animals.
7. A person on whom Qurbani is Waajib, purchased an animal for sacrifice. Thereafter, this animal was lost, stolen or died. In such a case it will be Waajib to sacrifice another animal in its place. If, after purchasing the second animal the first one is found, the sacrificing of only one animal is Waajib upon him. If he sacrifices the second animal then it is preferable to give as charity the difference in price between the two animals, if there be any, difference e.g. the 1st animal had cost him $ 100, and the second had cost him $80. He should now give $20 as charity. However, it is preferable to make Qurbani of both the animals.
8. A person, on whom Qurbani is Waajib, bought an animal for sacrifice. Due to some reason he did not slaughter it on the fixed days of Qurbani. It is now compulsory upon him to give the animal away, alive, as charity. If he did not purchase the animal and Qurbani was Waajib on him, it is obligatory for him to give as charity, the value of an animal.
9. If a person, on whom Qurbani was Waajib, failed to carry it out for a number of years, should give the value of that number of animals as charity. Slaughtering of that amount of animals during the days of Qurbani will not compensate for the missed Qurbani, but will instead be regarded as voluntary Qurbani.
10. If a person carries out Qurbani on behalf of a person on whom Qurbani is Waajib, without his permission and without his knowing; this Qurbani will not be valid. If it is done with his permission or instruction, it is permissible.
11. It is Mustahab (preferable) for those intending to make Qurbani not to cut their hair or clip their nails (from the time the moon for Zil Hijjah is sighted until after Qurbani.)
12. Qurbani is an Ibaadat that has to be carried out every year on whom it is Waajib. Being a Hajee is not a condition for Qurbani becoming Waajib.