4 Points of Islamic Law of Online Qurban

The rapid improvement of technology has affected almost all aspects in our lives. Everything is now in our hands. When in some years ago technology devices could only be used by certain people because of its high cost or limited connection, now almost every person owns them. We use them to support our activities, ease our business, or look for entertainment after the hectic routine we should face everyday.

Things we thought impossible becomes possible and can be reached because of the help of technology. Using technology, we can chat with other people from any place, order food, have a meeting, do jobs, only by staying in our house. Even there is a statement that we’re now depended on it.

After such facilities in technology giving ease to our lives, there’s another innovation which is getting popular time by time. It’s online qurban. It’s, of course, highly needed by people when qurban time is coming, like these days in the month of Dhulhijjah.

This facility will be useful for those who do not have enough time to choose animals for qurban (udhiyyah) and prefer the simplicity. And to fulfil the demand of online qurban, the institution or application providing the service is getting increased nowadays.

The presence of online qurban is astonishing, though, for some people, since qurban is a sacred worship in Islam. There’s no exact Islamic law of online qurban. Many scholars argue whether or not it is allowed, and that there are different arguments about it.

Basically, from all opinions, online qurban is mubah (allowed) as long as it follows rules of sacrifice in Islam that must be obeyed and manners of sacrifice in Islam for Muslims.

But, some scholars actually do not recommend online qurban because shahibul qurban (someone who does qurban) will miss some sunnah if they do qurban online.

The first sunnah is saying the name of Allah when animal of qurban is being slaughtered. When we do online qurban, we cannot do it because it is slaughtered in another place and we do not know the right time it’s being slaughtered. The second one is slaughtering our animals of qurban by ourselves or witnessing the slaughter.

While in online qurban, our animals of qurban are slaughtered by other people and we cannot witness it. And the third sunnah is eating qurban meat. Of course we also cannot realize this sunnah since in online qurban, qurban meat is not distributed in the place where we live.

In addition, there are also things that are sunnah when slaughtering sacrificial animals we should learn to get more understanding.

لِّيَشْهَدُوا۟ مَنَٰفِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَٰتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ ۖ فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْبَآئِسَ ٱلْفَقِيرَ

“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.” (Al-Hajj: 28)

Even though online qurban is allowed, still there are some things we should be aware of so that our qurban is valid and lawful.

• First thing first is checking the credibility of the institution that provides online qurban service

To choose the right institution, we can ask for our friends’ recommendation who have ever done online qurban. Or if we try to choose it by ourselves, don’t forget to read the explanation about it in the website comprehensively. We can also call the number listed on website to make sure that the institution is legal, and ask for proof if it’s needed.

• There’s ijab-qabul between the sellers and shahibul qurban

The ijab-qabul here doesn’t have to be said explicitly. It is realized in transaction process between the sellers (provider of online qurban service) and the buyers (shahibul qurban).

The sellers explains the buyers about qurban animals they provide (physical characteristics, type, cost) and the buyers transfer them the payment. Both sellers and buyers have known and agreed the price which is transacted. This system is called al-Muaathah in Islam.

• Transparency of qurban report is necessary

We should choose the institution that gives qurban report completely and update it frequently. The data which is included are the name of shahibul qurban, the number of qurban, the place where qurban animals are slaughtered (complete and specific address), committee of qurban’s signature, and the photograph when qurban animals are being slaughtered. Transparency of qurban report is one of the signs that the institution is valid.

• There’s transparency of qurban meat distribution

It’s also important to make sure where qurban meat is distributed. This qurban meat is certainly will be more useful if it is distributed to the people who really need it. Besides, we as shahibul qurban will be also satisfied if the distribution is done properly and right on target.

The areas which can be the target of distribution are remote area and the area where there are needy people, conflict, or disaster. Through online qurban, the goodness will be spread out more broadly.

Whether conventional qurban or online qurban that we choose, the most important thing is our intention (niyyah). It’s because, again, there’s no exact Islamic law of online qurban designed by our scholars. The law is almost similar to conventional qurban except in some things mentioned above. And the basic thing is we know the purposes of sacrifice in Islam.

لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good.” (Al-Hajj: 37)

Even though conventional qurban has more superiority than online qurban, it’s allowed to do online qurban if there’s difficulty that makes us cannot do conventional qurban, and that we can still get virtues of animal sacrifice in Islam. Wallahu a’lam bisshawab.