Short answer
No authentic text says the sacrificed animal enters Jannah. Animals will be gathered on the Day of Judgement and justice will be done between them, then, as many scholars explain, they become dust. The reward of qurbani is for the person who sacrifices, and what reaches Allah is their taqwa.
This is a matter of belief, not fiqh. Qurbani is wajib on those with the means, and its reward goes to the one who sacrifices. Claims that the animal enters Jannah, or carries its owner over the Sirat, have no authentic basis.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Quran says every creature is part of a community like ours and will be gathered to its Lord. The Prophet ﷺ said that on the Day of Judgement rights will be settled even between a hornless sheep and a horned one. Animals are not held accountable for belief, so they are not promised Jannah or threatened with Hell. Many scholars of tafsir explain, from reports of the Companions, that after this settling they are turned to dust.
Two popular sayings come up every Eid:
- "The animal will come with its horns, hair and hooves" and "a reward for every hair": these are in Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, but hadith scholars grade their chains weak. Many scholars still mention them to encourage qurbani, not to build a ruling.
- "Your sacrifices are your rides over the Sirat": hadith scholars say this has no reliable chain. Do not repeat it as the Prophet's words.
What is certain is enough: the Quran says the meat and blood do not reach Allah, but your taqwa does. Treat the animal well, use a sharp knife, do not slaughter one in front of another, and give the meat generously. That is the qurbani that is accepted. See why Muslims sacrifice and does qurbani hurt the animal.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-An'aam 6:38
وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَٰٓئِرٍۢ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّآ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم ۚ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مِن شَىْءٍۢ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ ﴿٣٨﴾
And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you. We have not neglected in the Register a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.
Animals will be gathered to Allah.
Quran, Surah Al-Hajj 22:37
لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿٣٧﴾
Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good.
What reaches Allah is the sacrificer's taqwa.
Sahih Muslim 2582
Sahih... حتى يقاد للشاة الجلحاء من الشاة القرناء ...
"Rights will be paid back on the Day of Resurrection, even the hornless sheep will be given its due from the horned sheep."
Animals are gathered and justice is done between them.
Sahih Muslim 1955
Sahih... فإذا ذبحتم فأحسنوا الذبح ...
"When you slaughter, slaughter well."
Kindness to the animal is part of the sacrifice.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Udhiyah. The virtue of qurbani and its reward for the one who sacrifices.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.