In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful!
Approaching is one of the sacred days of the Islamic world and of our people — the blessed festival of Qurban (Eid al-Adha), a symbol of our Lord's grace and favor toward humanity. This sacred day, held dear by all the heavenly religions and bound to the covenant of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and the name of Prophet Ismail (peace be upon him), has for centuries conveyed to our world a message of universal unity and humanity.
On the eve of the blessed Eid al-Adha, so dear to the Muslim world, the Council of Qadis of the Caucasus Muslims Board, as is tradition, considers it essential to convey its recommendations concerning the festival of Qurban:
We declare that, according to the rulings and Sharia rules concerning the festival of Qurban, the sacrifice is obligatory (wajib) only for pilgrims performing the Hajj in Mecca. In other places, the offering of a sacrifice by those who have the means is a sunnah act, and the distribution of the sacrificial meat to poor families is considered a deed of great reward. In the Holy Qur'an, Allah the Almighty emphasizes not the value of the sacrificial animal, but the importance of good and pure intention: "Neither their flesh nor their blood reaches Allah; what reaches Him is your piety..." (Al-Hajj, 37). Everyone who believes in the divine wisdom of this blessed verse must refrain from distorting the essence of the Qurban worship and from innovative (bid'ah) approaches.
Traditionally, preference for the sacrifice is given to sheep. However, goats, cattle, and camels may also be chosen. Everyone is free in the distribution of the meat, but according to the counsel of our beloved Prophet (pbuh), helping those without means is closer to the spirit of our religion. The rite of sacrifice must be performed in clean, highly sanitary conditions and in appropriate places. Under Sharia rules, the animal to be sacrificed must be healthy and fit for slaughter. Sick, emaciated, and defective animals are not considered suitable for sacrifice. As a rule, animals that have reached a certain age are slaughtered: goats and sheep must be at least one year old, oxen and cows more than two years old, and camels must have completed five years. According to Sharia, it is essential that the animal be laid facing the qibla and slaughtered with the intention of Qurban, invoking the name of Allah. The sacrifice is generally divided into three parts: one part is recommended for the owner of the sacrifice, another for families without means, and the third to be distributed as a gift to relatives and kin.
According to the calculations of the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory of ANAS, in accordance with the visibility of the crescent moon on the Azerbaijani horizon, the festival of Qurban will fall on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah — May 27 of the Gregorian calendar. This year, by the unanimous fatwa of the Council of Heads of Religious Administrations of the Organization of Turkic States adopted on May 18, 2026, the festival day was confirmed as May 27. In accordance with Sharia, the slaughter of the sacrifice may continue for 3 days beginning May 27. On May 27, Eid prayers will be performed in our mosques, insha'Allah.
In Azerbaijan, the days of the Qurban festival have been declared non-working days by the state. We express our gratitude for the state's special attention to believers, congratulate the guardian of our national and spiritual values — our head of state, His Excellency Ilham Aliyev — and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva on the occasion of the festival, convey the blessings of our believers to their family, and wish them success in their benevolent and fruitful work for the development of state–religion relations at the highest level.
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said in one of his noble hadiths: "On the day of the festival of Qurban, the son of Adam can do no deed more beautiful than offering a sacrifice for Allah." The beauty of this worship lies in that it draws a person closer to Allah, instills humility, obedience, and benevolence, and strengthens social unity and fellowship, love, and the bonds of brotherhood among Muslims. During these sacred festival days — a symbol of solidarity, mutual assistance, and spiritual purification — we must pray for our Homeland and our nation. Praise be to Allah that the Azerbaijani people, under the leadership of their wise state leader, the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, have fully restored historical justice and Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty. May Allah have mercy on our children who gave their lives for the Homeland and rose to the lofty station of martyrdom, may He grant healing to our heroic veterans, and may the blessings we ask for all the soldiers and officers of our glorious Army be answered! May Allah the Almighty forever grant victory to the Azerbaijani state, its people, and its wise leader!
On the occasion of this cherished festival, the Caucasus Muslims Board and its leadership congratulate the Azerbaijani people and all the Muslims of the world, and beseech the Almighty Creator that we remain forever faithful to the spiritual values borne by the festival of Qurban. May Allah the Almighty accept your prayers and worship, and may your Qurban festival be blessed! Amin!
Wa-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh!
Baku, 25 May 2026
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