Short answer
Qurbani can only be done from after the Eid prayer on 10 Dhul Hijjah until sunset on the 12th. If it was wajib on you and those days pass, you cannot sacrifice it later; in the Hanafi school you give the value of a sheep or goat to the poor instead, and repent for the delay.
The days of sacrifice are 10, 11 and 12 Dhul Hijjah, the first being best; slaughter at night in between is valid but makruh tanzihi. If a wealthy person let them pass, he must give the value of a sheep in charity; if he had bought an animal for it, he gives that animal alive in charity.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The days run to sunset on 13 Dhul Hijjah. As qurbani is sunnah, nothing is owed for missing it unless it was vowed or an animal was designated for it, which is then slaughtered as a make-up.
- Maliki
- Three days like the Hanafis, but slaughter at night does not count as qurbani.
- Hanbali
- Three days in the relied-upon view; a designated animal is still slaughtered after them as a make-up.
Explanation
The Quran speaks of mentioning Allah's name over the sacrificial animals "on known days", and the Prophet ﷺ said that a sacrifice before the Eid prayer is just meat for one's family, not a qurbani. Scholars of the Hanafi, Maliki and Hanbali schools take the days to be the 10th and the two after it; the Shafi'is add the 13th.
- Start: after the Eid prayer in a town; in a village with no Eid prayer, from dawn on the 10th.
- End: sunset on the 12th.
- Different countries: what counts is where the animal is slaughtered, with care that it is a qurbani day where you are too (see qurbani abroad).
- Missed, wajib: give the value of a sheep or goat to the poor. Slaughtering after the 12th does not count as qurbani.
- Missed for several years: give the value for each year you owed it.
- Charity let you down: if the slaughter did not happen on time through their fault, ask them to refund and give the value as sadaqah yourself, or ask a mufti.
- Voluntary qurbani missed: nothing is owed.
Those who owe qurbani are explained in is qurbani wajib. Our qurbani page has this year's dates.
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-Hajj 22:28
لِّيَشْهَدُوا۟ مَنَٰفِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍۢ مَّعْلُومَٰتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ ۖ فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْبَآئِسَ ٱلْفَقِيرَ ﴿٢٨﴾
That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor.
Qurbani has set days.
Sahih al-Bukhari 968
Sahih... ومن ذبح قبل أن يصلي فإنما هو لحم عجله لأهله ليس من النسك في شيء ...
"Whoever slaughters before praying, it is only meat he hurried for his family and is not part of the sacrifice at all."
A sacrifice outside its time does not count as qurbani.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Udhiyah, on its days. Three days, the first best; if they pass, the wealthy person gives the value of a sheep in charity.
- Bada'i al-Sana'i, Kitab al-Tadhiyah, on missing its time. The difference between the one who bought an animal and the one who did not.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Udhiyah, on its time. The Shafi'i fourth day.
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.