Dhul Hijjah is one of the holiest months in the Islamic Calendar. It is the month of Hajj, one of the five sacred pillars of Islam, the month in which Prophet Ibrahim (AS) made his sacrifice to Allah (SWT) and the month in which Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha.

During this month, Muslims reflect on the story of Ibrahim (AS) and the significance of his devotion to Allah (SWT). Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha each year and perform the Qurbani.

The Qurbani as it is known in Arabic, or sacrifice, is the slaughter of an animal – a goat, sheep, camel or cow – to reflect the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail (AS) for the sake of Allah (SWT). The animal is then distributed to those most in need around the world. You can also find out more about how Islamic Relief distributes Qurbani meat here.

There are a few rules for performing the Qurbani, and a commonly asked question is whether or not if the one performing Qurbani is prohibited from cutting their hair and nails in the lead-up to the sacrifice. You can find everything you need to know about this issue below.

Can you cut your nails if you give Qurbani?

There are different schools of thought regarding the cutting of nails before making the Qurbani sacrifice.

In the Hanbali madhab (school of thought), it is considered haraam (forbidden) to cut your nails if you’re donating Qurbani (sacrifice).

According to the majority of the scholars, however, to refrain from cutting your nails is recommended. It is best to seek advice according to your madhab (school of thought).

See more Qurbani rules here.