Can Qurbani be substituted by charity?
Question
Q. If Qurbani is Wajib on me, do I have to do the physical Qurbani or can I just give the same amount of money in charity?
Answer
During the days of Qurbani, Sadaqah and charity will not compensate for the physical observance of Qurbani. Just as Zakah cannot compensate for Hajj, nor fasting compensate for Salaah, similarly charity cannot compensate for Qurbani. However, if the days of Qurbani have passed, and the Qurbani was not offered due to ignorance, negligence or for some other reason, then it becomes Wajib to give in Sadaqah the price of Qurbani animal or the unslaughtered animal itself to the poor. (Bada’ius Sana’I’, Vol: 5, Pg: 66, al-Mabsoot, by Sarakhsi, Vol: 12, Pg: 14)
And Allah Knows Best
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