Short answer
A pilgrim doing tamattu or qiran must sacrifice a sheep or goat, or a seventh of a cow or camel, in the Haram on 10 to 12 Dhul Hijjah. It is a sacrifice of thanks, so you may eat from it. If you cannot afford it, fast three days before the Day of Sacrifice and seven after Hajj.
The hady of tamattu and qiran (dam shukr) is wajib. It is slaughtered inside the Haram on the days of sacrifice, after stoning on the 10th and before shaving. The pilgrim may eat from it. One who cannot afford it fasts three days in the Hajj months after entering ihram, the last on the 9th at the latest, and seven after the Hajj.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- If the three days are not fasted before the 10th, they are made up later; the fasting option does not lapse.
- Hanbali
- If the three days are missed, they may be fasted in the days of tashreeq or made up later.
Explanation
The Quran says that whoever joins umrah to Hajj offers what sacrifice is easy, and whoever cannot find one fasts three days during Hajj and seven on returning, ten in all. The Prophet ﷺ slaughtered his camels at Mina and ate from their meat and drank from the broth, which shows this sacrifice is not a penalty.
- Who: the mutamatti and the qarin. Not the mufrid, and not people living within the miqat zone, who do not do tamattu.
- What: a sheep or goat, or a seventh share of a cow or camel, of qurbani age and free of defects.
- Where and when: in the Haram, from after stoning on the 10th to sunset on the 12th. Slaughter before the 10th does not count.
- Order: shave only after it is done (see the order on the 10th).
- Paying a bank or agent: allowed; confirm the time before shaving.
Cannot afford it: fast three days after entering ihram for umrah in the Hajj months, ideally the 7th, 8th and 9th, and seven more after the days of Hajj, wherever you are. In the Hanafi school, if the three days are not fasted before the 10th, fasting no longer replaces the sacrifice and it becomes binding; ask a scholar what to do then. This hady is separate from the Eid qurbani; see pilgrims and qurbani.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:196
وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلْحَجَّ وَٱلْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنْ أُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۖ وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا۟ رُءُوسَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْهَدْىُ مَحِلَّهُۥ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِۦٓ أَذًۭى مِّن رَّأْسِهِۦ فَفِدْيَةٌۭ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍۢ ۚ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِٱلْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى ٱلْحَجِّ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۚ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍۢ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ ۗ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌۭ كَامِلَةٌۭ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن لَّمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُۥ حَاضِرِى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ﴿١٩٦﴾
And complete the Hajj and 'umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs 'umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Haram. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty.
The hady of tamattu and the fast for one who cannot afford it.
Sahih Muslim 1218
Sahih... فأكلا من لحمها وشربا من مرقها ...
"They both ate of its meat and drank of its broth."
The pilgrim may eat from the sacrifice of tamattu and qiran.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Hajj, bab al-tamattu'. The hady of tamattu, the fasting option and its timing.
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Hajj, bab al-hadi. Eating from the hady of tamattu and qiran; it is slaughtered in the Haram on the days of sacrifice.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Kitab al-Hajj, on the fasting of the mutamatti. Making up the three days if missed.
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.