Are There Four Days for Sacrificing (Qurbani)?

The question often arises: Are there four days allowed for Qurbani (sacrifice)? Some scholars have stated that Qurbani is permissible for four days, based on the narration of the Prophet ﷺ:

¹كُلُّ أَيَّامِ التَّشْرِيقِ ذَبْحٌ

“All the days of Tashreeq are days of sacrifice.”

What Are the Days of Tashreeq?

The days of Tashreeq are the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. These are the three days following Yawm al-Nahr (10th Dhul-Hijjah), which is the primary day of Eid al-Adha and sacrifice. Therefore, the Days of Sacrifice (Ayyam al-Nahr) begin on the 10th and continue through the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah.

This means there are four total days during which Qurbani may be performed.

Timing for Sacrifice

You may perform Qurbani at any time during these days, whether in the morning, afternoon, evening, or night — as long as it is done before Maghrib (sunset) on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah.

Evidence and Scholarly Opinion

The hadith mentioned above has been classified as authentic by Shaykh al-Albani رحمه الله, and many companions of the Prophet ﷺ acted upon it. Therefore, based on this narration and the actions of the Sahabah, sacrificing on the fourth day (13th Dhul-Hijjah) is permissible.

However, it must be understood that while the fourth day is allowed, it is not the Sunnah to delay the Qurbani until then. Some mistakenly believe that sacrificing on the fourth day is itself an act of Sunnah — this is not the case.

What Is the Sunnah and Most Virtuous?

The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ was to perform the sacrifice on the first day, i.e., the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah. The Prophet ﷺ never delayed his sacrifice to the fourth day. Thus, sacrificing on the first day is the most virtuous, and as the days pass, the reward decreases.

Why Is the Fourth Day Allowed?

The allowance for the fourth day is out of ease and necessity, especially when the number of animals is large — as is the case with pilgrims (Hujjaj) during Hajj. Sacrifices for Hajj can number in the hundreds of thousands, and it is practically impossible to complete them in a single day. Therefore, sacrifices continue in slaughterhouses throughout all four days.