One part of the qurban can be for one family. One goat can also be for one family. Similarly, one seventh of a cow can be allocated for a family. The concept of "union" in this context refers to the sharing of rewards, not financing. What are the specific conditions for allocating qurban for a family?

The argument that one sacrifice can be shared as a reward for one family is based on the hadith from 'Atho' bin Yasar, who said,

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيَّ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ الضَّحَايَا عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ؟ فَقَالَ : كَانَ الرَّجُلُ يُضَحِّي بِالشَّاةِ عَنْهُ وَعَنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ ، فَيَأْكُلُونَ وَيُطْعِمُونَ

"I once asked Ayyub Al-Ansari, 'How was the qurban at the time of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam?' He replied, 'A person used to sacrifice a goat for himself and one for his family. Then they would eat the qurbani and give food to others.' (HR. Tirmidhi no. 1505 and Ibn Majah no. 3147. Al-Hafizh Abu Thahir said that this hadith is authentic)."

Imam Asy-Syaukani Rahimahullah said, "This argument shows the validity of the goat sacrifice for one family because the friends of Radhiyallahu 'anhum at the time of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam did it. Therefore, it does not need to be denied. What is correct is that the goat sacrifice may be intended for one family even if there are 100 people or more in that family." (Nail Al-Authar, 6: 375)

Muhammad 'Abdurrahman Al-Mubarakfuri Rahimahullah stated, "This hadith is a strong evidence that one goat can be used to sacrifice for one person and their family, even if the number of family members is large. This is the correct understanding." (Tuhfah Al-Ahwadzi, 5: 74)

Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih Al-'Uthaimin Rahimahullah said, "The collective reward for Qurbani is unlimited. The Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam once sacrificed for all of his people. The man mentioned in the hadith also sacrificed on behalf of himself and his family. This shows that it is permissible for a person to make sacrifices for himself and his family, even if there are one hundred members in his family. However, in association with ownership, it is limited to a cow with seven people. (Sharh Al-Mumthi', 7: 428)"

If the goats can share in the reward, what about giving 1/7 of the cow?

Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih Al-'Utsaimin Rahimahullah stated, "Goats can be a means of sharing rewards for a person and his family members. Similarly, 1/7 of a cow and 1/7 of a camel can be intended for oneself and one's family members." (Syarh Al-Mumthi', 7: 428)

The intention of one family for one qurbani is permissible as long as it fulfills the following three conditions:

  • Living together in the same house.
  • Wives or other relatives, even if they are far away.
  • The intended recipients of the reward are those who are obligated to provide for others, such as both parents and their young children, or as a gift for an existing family member, such as an uncle or sibling living in the same house.

If the three conditions mentioned above are met, then only one person from a family will need to sacrifice. However, in terms of merit, the entire family living under the same roof will receive the benefits. This is according to the Shafi'i school of thought, where the qurban sacrifice for one family is considered a sunnah kifayah, meaning that if some members of the family have already performed it, then it is considered fulfilled. However, if there is no qurban sacrifice performed in a household, it is not allowed. Wallahu a'lam. (Source: Al-Mawsu'ah Al-Fiqhiyyah, 5: 78 and Kifayah Al-Akhyar, p. 579)

Science can be helpful, but ultimately it is only Allah who grants taufik.

Author: Muhammad Abduh Tuasikal