الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
Many people ask about the ruling regarding cutting the hair and nails during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.
Does it apply only to the person offering the Qurbani (Udhiyah), or does it also include the family members or those on whose behalf the Qurbani is done?
They are referring to the hadīth of Umm Salamah (radiy Allahu ‘anha), in which she said,
The Prophet ﷺ said,
‘When the ten days (of Dhul Hijjah) begin, and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, let him not remove anything from his hair or nails until he has offered the sacrifice.'” [1]
This is the answer
If a person intends to offer a Qurbani during the days of sacrifice — beginning after the Eid prayer on 10th Dhul Hijjah and continuing until just before Maghrib on 13th Dhul Hijjah (the third day of Tashrīq) — then this guideline applies only to the person who is offering the sacrifice.
It does not apply to those on whose behalf the Qurbani is being offered.
Clarification 1
This ruling is not strict, and it does not affect the validity of the Qurbani.
If someone cuts their hair or nails during these ten days, their Qurbani is still valid and rewarded. This is a recommended Sunnah, not a condition for acceptance.
The wisdom, as understood by most scholars, is to imitate the pilgrims in a symbolic way — as they too are prohibited from cutting their hair until the sacrifice is made.
Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) says,
“And do not shave your heads until the offering reaches the place of sacrifice.” [2]
Sadly, some Imams and khatībs overemphasise this ruling, portraying it as a strict requirement or as though it were the main focus of these blessed days. This is a misrepresentation.
The true focus should be on acts of worship, especially dhikr, du’ā, salah, and other good deeds.
Clarification 2
There is no harm if the individuals on whose behalf the Qurbani is being offered — including children — choose to follow this guideline themselves.
This is acceptable, but not required, particularly since the ruling is not strict or obligatory.
Clarification 3
If your intention was to give the sacrificial animal or its cost as a gift or sadaqah to someone, and they accept it and offer the Qurbani themselves, then they are considered the ones performing the sacrifice.
In this case — even if you facilitated or arranged the process — the guideline of not cutting hair or nails would apply to them, since the act of offering the Qurbani is now attributed to them.
And Allah knows best.
Source: Islam21c
Notes
[1] Sahīh Muslim; https://sunnah.com/muslim:1977e
[2] al-Qur’ān, 2:196
