Asking about qurbani
Assalamu alaykum. I'm new and still learning about Eid al-Adha. Does qurbani apply to me this year, and is there a local or online option you'd trust?
Sacred season
Dhul Hijjah, Hajj, and Umrah guide
Dhul Hijjah holds the days of Hajj and Eid al-Adha. Most new Muslims are not going to Hajj this year, and you can still get a lot out of the season through prayer, fasting if you are able, charity, remembrance, and learning how the whole thing fits together.
Start here
The first ten days are a time for extra worship and good deeds.
Fasting on the Day of Arafah is recommended for anyone not on Hajj who is able to fast.
Hajj becomes an obligation once a Muslim is physically and financially able to go.
Umrah is a separate pilgrimage you can make outside the Hajj season, though the travel rules still need checking against official sources.
What to focus on now
- Learn what Dhul Hijjah is and mark the first ten days in your calendar.
- Pick one or two extra acts: dhikr, charity, Quran, fasting, or being better to your family.
- Ask your masjid how Eid al-Adha prayer and qurbani or udhiyah work locally.
- If you are planning Hajj or Umrah, check the official travel sources before you pay anyone.
What can wait
- The detailed rulings on Hajj rites, if you are not traveling soon.
- Comparing every qurbani organization.
- Buying a travel package before you have checked the official requirements.
- Feeling guilty about not fasting every one of the ten days.
The first ten days
The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are treated as a season for worship. A beginner can keep it practical: more dhikr, a little Quran, some charity, one relationship repaired, and a few days of fasting if your health and schedule allow.
A note on fasting Arafah
For Muslims who are not on Hajj, fasting the Day of Arafah is strongly encouraged in hadith. If fasting is medically risky, unsafe for you, or unclear because of your circumstances, ask someone qualified and do a different good deed instead.
Eid al-Adha basics
Eid al-Adha falls during the Hajj season and goes back to the story of Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him. Communities hold an Eid prayer, and many Muslims arrange qurbani or udhiyah through organizations they trust.
Qurbani and udhiyah in brief
Qurbani, also called udhiyah, is the sacrifice offered around Eid al-Adha by those it applies to. The details shift depending on school of law, income, what is available locally, and which charity you use. Ask your local imam or a trusted organization instead of treating a checkout page as a ruling.
Hajj as something ahead of you
Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam for those who are able to go. New Muslims usually need time first: steady prayer, money, travel documents, family responsibilities, health. Understanding the shape of it is enough for now unless you are actively booking travel.
Umrah basics
Umrah is a pilgrimage to Makkah outside the Hajj season. It is worship, and it is also visas, health, money, safety, and careful travel planning. Use the official platforms and current government guidance before you book.
Checking the official route
- Check the official Nusuk Hajj or Nusuk Umrah platform before you pay for pilgrimage travel.
- Read your own country's travel guidance if it applies to you.
- Confirm the vaccine, visa, permit, and booking rules close to your departure date.
- Ask a qualified teacher what you need to learn before you go.
Useful scripts
Planning Hajj for later
I'm not ready for Hajj yet, but I want to know what I should be getting in order over the next few years. What should I learn first?
Checking a travel offer
Before I pay for this, could you help me check whether this Hajj or Umrah package goes through the official process, and whether anything about it looks off?
Ask someone qualified if
Your question involves illness, medication, pregnancy, menstruation, hardship, travel, visas, qurbani, missed fasts, fidyah, zakat calculations, debt, business assets, or family pressure. This guide is general education, not a ruling for your situation.
Sources used
These sources back the beginner framing on this page. Where English appears, Quran links are translations of meaning, hadith links keep their collection references, and personal rulings still need qualified review.
- Sahih Muslim 1162b - Fasting on ArafahReferencia de hadices
Sunnah.com - Referencia de hadices
Se utiliza para la nota para principiantes de la guía Dhul Hijjah sobre el ayuno en el Día de Arafah para aquellos que no realizan el Hajj.
- Yaqeen Institute Dhul Hijjah ResourcesEducación para la investigación
Yaqeen Institute - Colección educativa Dhul Hijjah
Se utiliza para la guía Dhul Hijjah y la lista de recursos seleccionados.
- New Muslim Guide - Your Pilgrimageguía principiante
New Muslim Guide - Guía para principiantes de peregrinación.
Se utiliza para encuadrar las visitas de principiante al Hajj, Umrah y Medina, evitando al mismo tiempo reglas rituales avanzadas.
- Nusuk Hajj Official PlatformFuente oficial de viajes
Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah - Plataforma oficial del Hajj
Se utiliza para el viaje Hajj, advierte que las reglas oficiales de registro y reserva pueden cambiar y deben verificarse antes del pago.
- Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimage TravelersFuente oficial de viajes
U.S. Department of State - Guía oficial de viajes públicos
Se utiliza para las precauciones de viaje relevantes para el Hajj y la Umrah en los EE. UU. y como recordatorio para verificar los requisitos oficiales antes de reservar.