The traditional Islamic term for the animal sacrifice performed during Eid al-Adha is “udhiyah.” The practice is also widely known as qurbani, especially in South Asia and other regions.
Udhiyah commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness, according to Islamic tradition, to sacrifice his son in obedience to God before God provided an animal instead. Muslims who perform the rite commonly sacrifice an eligible sheep, goat, cow, or camel after the Eid prayer and during the specified days of Eid al-Adha.
The meat is traditionally divided among the household, relatives and friends, and people in need. Udhiyah is distinct from aqiqah, a sacrifice associated with a child’s birth, and from zakat, the obligatory charitable payment. Rules concerning eligibility, timing, and distribution can differ among Islamic legal schools.