Fatwa- Qurbani Guidelines from Gaza's Esteemed Scholar
As the situation in Gaza continues to worsen, the availability of animals for Qurbani is becoming increasingly uncertain. In these challenging times, we sought guidance from inside Gaza on how we can still fulfill our Qurbani obligations and provide for our brothers and sisters in need.
This is a powerful reminder of the impact we can make. By participating in Qurbani and ensuring the meat reaches Gaza, you not only fulfill your religious duty but also bring much-needed relief and happiness to those suffering.
Read the full fatwa from Mufti Ihsan Ibrahim Ashour, Mufti of Khan Younus below:
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على أشرف الخلق أجمعين محمد
صلى الله عليه وسلم وبعد فيسأل بعض الإخوة الخيرون في الخارج عن حكم ذبح أضاحيهم قبل عيد الأضحى المبارك ليتسنى لهم شحنها وإرسالها إلى أهلنا في قطاع غزة الذين يعيشون ظروفا قاسية أثناء هذه الحرب الغاشمة علينا، يعانون فيها آلام الحرمان، والعوز، وسوء التغذيه، لتصلهم في أيام العيد فيأكلون منها ويشعرون بفرحة العيد. وكأنهم ذبحوها بأنفسهم فهل تجزئ تلك الأضاحي لو
ذبحوها قبل العيد لهذا الغرض ؟
أقول وبالله التوفيق وبه العون ومنه السداد.
أولا: شكر الله لإخواننا وأحبابنا هذا الشعور الطيب وهذه الوقفة التضامنية المباركة ونقول لهم جزاكم الله خيرا.
وبارك فيكم وفي عيالكم وأموالكم ومتعكم الله بموفور الصحة ومزيد العافية.
ثانيا: إن الاضحية عبادة مؤقتة فلا يجوز ذبحها قبل وقتها المحدد لها شرعا وهو بعد صلاة العيد لقول الله تعالى "فصل لربك وانحر" وهذا ما كان يفعله النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ففي الصحيحين عن جندب رضي الله عنه قام صلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم النحر ثم خطب ثم ذبح فقال: "من ذبح قبل أن يصلي فليذبح أخرى مكانها ومن لم يذبح فليذبح بسم الله"
ثالثا: أن المسلم مأجور بالنية ومن قصد إدخال السرور على أخيه المسلم وهو من أحب الاعمال الى الله تعالى فقد وقع أجره على الله *وعليه فمن لزم الحكم الشرعي فذبح أضحيته في موعدها ثم أرسلها لإخوانه المكلومين في غزة فقد حاز أجر ما نوى من ثواب الأضحية وفضل إدخال السرور على أخيه المسلم، وأجر اسناد المجاهدين ودعمهم وتعزيز صمودهم حتى ولو وصلتهم أضحيته بعد
العيد فإن الناس سيفرحون بها ، ذلك أن أيام الحرب عندنا
سواء، ولا فرق فيها بين العيد وغيره،* وعدونا لا يمنحنا فرصة للشعور بالفرق بين هذه الايام وتلك، إلا أننا بإيماننا وثباتنا وعزيمتنا وصبرنا ورضانا عن الله تعالى سنمرغ أنف عدونا الغاشم في التراب
وسنكسر هيبته، وسننتزع هزيمته انتزاعا، رغما عنه ويومئذ يفرح المؤمنون بنصر الله
وأخيرا لا تنسوا أحبابنا أن تديموا الدعاء والضراعة الى الله تعالى لنا بالثبات والصبر والنصر فهو سهمكم من الجهاد في سبيل الله في هذه الحرب والله يتولانا ويتولاكم وصلى الله على سيدنا محمد وعلى اله وصحبه
وسلم مع خالص تحياتي لكم
من وسط خيام النازحين في
خانيونس اخوكم إحسان إبراهيم عاشور مفتي محافظة خان يونس عضو مجلس الإفتاء الأعلى في فلسطين وعضو مجلس الاجتهاد الفقهي التابع لوزاره الاوقاف الفلسطينية
والسلام عليكم ورحمه الله تعالى وبركاته
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the most honourable of all creation, Muhammad, peace be upon him.
Some good brothers abroad ask about the ruling on slaughtering their Qurbani before the blessed day of Eid ul-Adha so that they can ship and send their offerings to our people in the Gaza Strip, who are living under harsh conditions during this brutal war against us.
Our people are suffering from deprivation, dire need, and malnutrition.
The intention is for the meat to reach them during the days of Eid so they can eat from it and feel the joy of Eid as if they had slaughtered it themselves.
Would these sacrifices be valid if they were slaughtered before Eid for this purpose?
I say, with Allah’s guidance and assistance, firstly, may Allah reward our dear brothers for their kind sentiments and this blessed solidarity. We say to them, may Allah reward you, bless you, your children, and your wealth, and grant you abundant health and well-being.
Secondly, Qurbani is a time-specific act of worship, and it is not permissible to slaughter it before its appointed time, which is after the Eid prayer. This is based on the words of Allah, ”So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone]" (Quran 108:2).
This is also what the Prophet, peace be upon him, used to do. In sahih Bukhari and Muslim, it is narrated that Jundub, may Allah be pleased with him, said: ”The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, prayed on the Day of Sacrifice, then delivered a sermon, then slaughtered [the sacrifice] and said, 'Whoever slaughtered before praying should slaughter another in its place, and whoever has not yet slaughtered should slaughter in the name of Allah.”
Thirdly, Muslims are rewarded based on their intentions. Whoever intends to bring joy to his fellow Muslim, which is one of the most beloved deeds to Allah, will have his reward with Allah. Therefore, whoever adheres to the Sharia ruling and slaughters his sacrifice at its appointed time and then sends it to his afflicted brothers and sisters in Gaza has earned the reward of the sacrifice and the virtue of bringing joy to his fellow Muslim.
He also earns the reward of supporting the struggling, strengthening their resilience,
even if his sacrifice reaches them after Eid.
The people will still rejoice with it, for our days during the war are all the same,with no difference between Eid and other days.
Our oppressors do not grant us the opportunity to feel the difference between these days.
However, with our faith, steadfastness, determination, patience, and the pleasure of Allah, we will humiliate our arrogant enemy, break their pride, and extract victory from them. On that day, the believers will rejoice with the victory of Allah.
Finally, to our dear brothers and sisters around the world do not forget to continually pray and supplicate to Allah for our steadfastness, patience, and victory.
This is your share of the struggle in this war.
May Allah take care of us and you.
And peace and blessings be upon our master Muhammad and his family and companions.
With my sincere greetings to you from among the tents of the displaced in Younus,
Your brother, Ihsan Ibrahim Ashour,
Mufti of Khan Younus Governorate,
Member of the Higher Fatwa Council in Palestine,
and Member of the Fiqh Ijtihad Council affiliated with the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments.
Peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.
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