500 children in Gaza, Sudan & 13 more countries are waiting for a guardian — earn 12 months of sadaqah jariyah today.
Sponsor a child500 children are waiting for a guardian — earn 12 months of Sadaqah Jariyah today.
Sponsor a child
500 children in Gaza, Sudan & 13 more countries are waiting for a guardian — earn 12 months of sadaqah jariyah today.
Sponsor a child500 children are waiting for a guardian — earn 12 months of Sadaqah Jariyah today.
Sponsor a child
21st September 2026
Qurbani and aqiqah are both animal sacrifices offered as acts of worship, which is where the similarity ends and the difference between aqiqah and Qurbani begins: Qurbani marks Eid al-Adha, while aqiqah celebrates the birth of a new child. If you've been searching for Qurbani and aqiqah explained side by side, or wondering specifically “what is the difference between aqiqah and Qurbani?”, this guide covers purpose, timing, animal requirements, rulings, meat distribution, and whether the two can be combined.
As both are obligatory-feeling sacrifices, aqiqah vs Qurbani is a common point of confusion – but once you know what each one marks, the rest follows naturally.
Qurbani (or ‘Udhiya’, an Arabic word meaning ‘blood sacrifice’) is the sacrifice of an animal for the glorification of Allah, performed during the days of Eid al-Adha – from the 10th to 13th of Dhul Hijjah. The word Qurbani comes from ‘Qurban’, an Arabic term that means an act performed to seek God’s pleasure.
It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's (AS) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail (AS) as a test of faith — an obedience that Allah rewarded by replacing Ismail with a ram at the last moment. Eligible animals include sheep, goats, cows, or camels, each meeting strict Sharia requirements, and the meat is traditionally divided three ways — for family, friends, and those in need — though many choose to donate it all to charity.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cemented the importance of this act, donating his own Qurbanis – one his own duty and one on behalf of the ummah. Today, Qurbani is an impactful sunnah that provides food to families, many of whom don’t get to eat meat at any other time of the year.
Aqiqa is the sunnah of blessing the birth of a new child with the sacrifice of an animal. It can be offered any time after the birth, but it is recommended to do it within the first week or month.
An aqiqa consists of two animals for a boy and one animal for a girl, and it is typically carried out by the parents or family.
Qurbani is incumbent upon all sane adults who have wealth in excess of their needs, according to the Hanafi madhab. This usually means that anyone who is eligible to pay Zakat must also perform Qurbani. At least one third of the meat should go to charity, but many people offer to give the whole amount away. Other madhabs say it is a strongly encouraged sunnah.
Aqiqas should be donated by the father, mother, or family of the new baby. One animal is slaughtered for a daughter, and two for a son. Like Qurbani, at least one third of the meat should go to charity, but many people offer to give the whole amount away.
Aqiqa is not mandatory, but it is a sunnah that bring great blessings.
It isn’t permissible to combine two intentions into one Qurbani as they are separate sacrifices, but it is possible to donate an aqiqa during Dhul Hijjah, when Qurbani sacrifices are performed.
It’s easy to donate via our platform every year as we approach Dhul Hijjah. Human Appeal offers Qurbanis starting at £26 every year, though depending on the country, the cost of a Qurbani can be as much as £200 or more due to local costs and shortages.
Donate through Human Appeal for £110 for one animal (girl) and £220 for two animals (boy). With 34 years’ experience, we usually slaughter within 2-3 weeks, and you’ll receive a full report about where and when your aqiqa was performed.
We’re able to provide a consistently low starting price for Qurbani each year because we purchase a high number in countries where beef is cheaper- and one cow covers 7 Qurbanis - this keeps Qurbani affordable for those struggling to afford it.
For aqiqas, the animal cannot be shared with other aqiqas, so we work only with sheep, and your animal is purchased and slaughtered especially for you.
Spiritual
Sacrificing to Allah is the highest show of faith and belief, exemplified in the example of Ibrahim (A), who was willing to obey Allah to the point of sacrificing his son.
Spiritual
Discover the rules of Aqiqah in Islam: correct timing, the sacrifice for boys and girls, shaving the head, and how to distribute the meat.
Spiritual
Discover the 5 pillars of Islam — Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj — explained simply, in order, with practical guidance for beginners.
Yes, giving Qurbani on behalf of the deceased is permissible — the majority of scholars across all four Sunni madhabs allow it, treating it as a form of sadaqah from which the deceased can benefit in the hereafter. The basis comes from a hadith in Ibn Maajah, where the Prophet ﷺ dedicated his own Qurbani to his entire ummah — including both the living and the deceased, as scholars have understood it.
Prominent scholars such as Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ibn Taymiyyah, and Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah explicitly supported this, comparing it to other accepted acts done on behalf of the deceased, like giving charity or performing Hajj in their name.
You can perform an aqiqa for your child until they become an adult, though its’ preferable to do it in infancy.
Some scholars believe you can even do it into adulthood – such as doing an aqiqa yourself if one was never done for you. If you have the intention to do an aqiqa for an adult who never had one done for them, set your intention, pray that Allah accepts it in the way it is intended and leave the rest up to His mercy.
Yes — a single share can be dedicated to one deceased person's memory, or the intention can even include multiple relatives collectively, since it's treated as voluntary charity rather than a fixed individual obligation. Many people choose to give a separate Qurbani for each person they wish to honour, but there's no requirement to do so.
No — you can choose to give Qurbani on behalf of a deceased loved one even if it wasn't requested during their lifetime. Since it's treated as sadaqah made on their behalf, the reward can be gifted to them regardless of whether they asked for it.
There's no penalty or sin in missing a year if you're unable to afford it. Both Qurbani and aqiqa are tied to financial ability — Qurbani is only obligatory (in the Hanafi view) for those whose wealth exceeds their basic needs, and aqiqa is not compulsory. If your circumstances improve later, there's nothing stopping you from giving it in a future year.
If you still want to participate in a Qurbani giving, you can give a partial amount which Human Appeal pools with other donations so that collectively you can sacrifice one share. You won’t get the same reward as a Qurbani, but, inshallah, it will be accepted for its sincerity if you’re unable to afford a Qurbani.
Yes - donating through a trusted charity like Human Appeal to have the sacrifice carried out on your behalf is accepted by scholars. What matters is that the correct intention (niyyah) is made and the animal meets the required conditions.
They're the same act. "Udhiya" is the original Arabic term for the ritual sacrifice, while "Qurbani" is the more commonly used term in the UK (and other countries), especially among non-Arab communities, derived from the Arabic word "Qurban." Both refer to the same Eid al-Adha sacrifice.
The common dua recited at the time of slaughter includes the phrase "Bismillah, Allahu Akbar," followed by an intention naming who the sacrifice is for. When performed by Human Appeal, those doing the sacrifice recite at the point of slaughter, so there’s no need for you to say this.
