A cow, bull, buffalo or camel can be shared by seven people, each taking one hissa; a goat or sheep counts for one person only. If a cow costs Rs 280,000 and transport, fodder and the butcher come to Rs 20,000, each hissa is Rs 300,000 / 7 = Rs 42,857.
In Hanafi fiqh qurbani is wajib on an adult Muslim who is not travelling and who owns wealth beyond basic needs worth at least the silver nisab, 52.5 tola of silver, on the days of qurbani. Enter your cash, gold and other surplus assets above and the calculator checks this against the silver rate.
Cost of a cow hissa
Price of the animal plus all costs, divided by seven.
| Cow price with costs | One share (1/7) | Two shares | Three shares |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rs 150,000 | Rs 21,429 | Rs 42,857 | Rs 64,286 |
| Rs 200,000 | Rs 28,571 | Rs 57,143 | Rs 85,714 |
| Rs 250,000 | Rs 35,714 | Rs 71,429 | Rs 107,143 |
| Rs 300,000 | Rs 42,857 | Rs 85,714 | Rs 128,571 |
| Rs 400,000 | Rs 57,143 | Rs 114,286 | Rs 171,429 |
| Rs 500,000 | Rs 71,429 | Rs 142,857 | Rs 214,286 |
Is qurbani wajib or sunnah?
- Hanafi (Deobandi, Barelvi): wajib on every adult, sane, resident (muqeem) Muslim who, during 10 to 12 Zul Hijjah, owns wealth worth the nisab beyond basic needs and debts. Unlike zakat, the wealth need not have been held for a year, and things kept beyond need, such as a spare plot or unused jewellery, are counted. Each member of the family who owns nisab has their own qurbani; a wife with enough gold of her own is one of them.
- Ahl-e-Hadith: sunnah mu'akkadah for anyone who can afford it. Following the hadith of Abu Ayyub Ansari (RA) in Tirmidhi, one goat is enough for a man and his whole household.
- Shia (Fiqh Jafaria): a highly recommended act for everyone who can afford it (Sistani). A sacrifice (hady) is wajib only on a pilgrim performing Hajj tamattu.
The nisab here is the same silver nisab used for zakat. The zakat nisab page shows its current value.
Animals, shares and minimum ages
The animal must be healthy and free of major defects, such as blindness, a broken horn at the root or a missing large part of the ear or tail.
| Animal | Shares | Minimum age (Hanafi) | Minimum age (Sistani) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goat | 1 | 1 full year | 2 years |
| Sheep or dumba | 1 | 1 year, or over 6 months if it looks a year old | 7 months |
| Cow, bull or buffalo | 7 | 2 full years | 2 years |
| Camel | 7 (10 for Ahl-e-Hadith) | 5 full years | 5 years |
Ahl-e-Hadith scholars allow ten shares in a camel from a hadith in Tirmidhi, and one Ahl-e-Hadith fatwa does not accept a buffalo; Hanafi scholars accept a buffalo as a cow. Sistani's office gives two years for a goat, which is older than the Hanafi one year.
Sharing an animal and dividing the meat
- Every partner in a cow or camel must intend qurbani (Hanafi scholars also allow a share for aqiqah). If one partner only wants meat, the qurbani of all of them is spoiled in Hanafi fiqh.
- Shared meat is divided by weight, not by estimate, so no partner takes more than another.
- It is recommended to keep one third for the family, give one third to relatives and friends, and give one third to the poor. Keeping more or giving it all away is allowed.
- The skin may be used or given away, but not sold for your own benefit. The butcher is paid in money, not with meat or the skin.
Worked example. Seven partners buy a bull for Rs 280,000 and spend Rs 20,000 on transport, fodder and the butcher. Each hissa costs Rs 42,857. A family taking two hissa pays Rs 85,714. If the animal gives 140 kg of meat, each hissa gets 20 kg, which is about 6.7 kg each for the family, relatives and the poor.
Days of qurbani
Qurbani is done after the Eid ul Adha prayer. Hanafi scholars allow it on 10, 11 and 12 Zul Hijjah; the Ahl-e-Hadith and Shafi'i view adds the 13th. In 2026 Eid ul Adha was on Wednesday 27 May in Pakistan, and 1448's Eid ul Adha is expected around 17 May 2027; see the Islamic calendar.
Qurbani questions
How many shares are there in a cow for qurbani?
Seven. A cow, bull, buffalo or camel can be shared by up to seven people, each with one hissa, and fewer partners can take more than one hissa each. A goat or sheep is for one person. Ahl-e-Hadith scholars allow ten shares in a camel.
Is qurbani wajib on me?
In Hanafi fiqh it is wajib if you are an adult Muslim, not travelling, and own wealth beyond basic needs worth the silver nisab of 52.5 tola during the days of qurbani. The calculator checks this. Ahl-e-Hadith and Shia scholars regard qurbani as a strongly recommended sunnah for anyone who can afford it.
Is one goat enough for the whole family?
In Hanafi fiqh one goat covers one person's wajib qurbani, so each member who owns nisab needs their own goat or hissa. Ahl-e-Hadith scholars hold that one goat suffices for a man and his household, following the hadith of Abu Ayyub Ansari in Tirmidhi.
How should qurbani meat be divided?
The recommended way is in thirds: one for your family, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor. Partners in a cow first divide the meat by weight into equal hissa. You may keep more if your family needs it.
Related tools
Last reviewed 30 September 2026. Results are estimates; official notices always take precedence.