Guides
How to choose a Qurbani animal
Confirm the animal meets the age requirement for its species, check that it is free of the defects that would disqualify it, and see it in person before paying. Age is judged from the teeth and is commonly described as “do dant” or “chaar dant”. Confirm the religious requirements with a qualified scholar — this page describes practice, not a ruling.
Religious guidance on this page is described, not ruled on. Confirm it with a qualified scholar.
Qasvah is a marketplace, not a religious authority. The requirements for a valid Qurbani are a matter of religious ruling and can differ between schools of thought. Confirm them with a scholar you trust before you buy. Everything below describes how buyers and sellers commonly describe animals on this platform.
How is an animal's age described here?
By teeth. Sellers across Pakistan describe age by how many permanent incisors an animal has shown — “do dant” for two, “chaar dant” for four, and so on — and buyers ask in the same terms. It is the description you will see in ads and hear at the mandi, so it is worth being able to check yourself: ask the seller to open the mouth and count with you rather than accepting the figure from the ad.
What should I check physically?
Watch it walk, and watch it eat. Look at the eyes, ears, horns, tail and hooves, and at the coat and the skin underneath. The categories of defect that matter for Qurbani are defined by religious ruling rather than by us, so check them against the list your scholar gives you — but every one of them is easier to assess with the animal standing in front of you than from a photograph.
Should I buy early or close to Eid?
Both are trade-offs and both are common. Buying early gives you a wider choice and calmer prices, but you take on keeping and feeding the animal until Eid. Buying close to Eid removes that, at the cost of a thinner selection and sharper prices. If you buy early, budget for feed and a place to keep it; that cost is real and is routinely underestimated.
Is a share in a large animal an option?
Yes — a Hissa. A large animal is divided into shares and a group takes one each, which is how many households take part without buying a whole animal. Qasvah lists Hissa groups with the number of shares still open. How shares are counted and who may take one is again a matter of ruling; the mechanics of booking one on this platform are in the Hissa guides.
Goat, sheep, cow or camel — how do buyers usually choose?
By household size, budget and what they have done in previous years, not by a ranking this page can invent. Small animals are typically one household; large animals are typically shared. Qasvah lists both whole animals and Hissa groups. Which species is valid for your Qurbani is a ruling — confirm it with a scholar, then search the matching category.
What does Qasvah mark as Qurbani-eligible?
Categories and fields that sellers commonly use for Qurbani animals, so you can filter to them. That mark is a listing convenience, not a religious certificate. The animal in front of you still has to meet the requirements your scholar gives you, including age and the absence of disqualifying defects.
Key facts
| What | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Age in ads | Usually given as “do dant” / “chaar dant” from the teeth | Common Pakistani livestock practice |
| Qasvah’s role | Marketplace listings. Not a religious authority and not a veterinary inspection | Qasvah platform |
| Hissa | A share in a large animal, listed with open shares and a price per share | Qasvah Hissa |
| Defects and validity | Confirm against the list your scholar gives you, in person | Deferred to a qualified scholar |
Qasvah editorial · Last updated
Common questions
Does Qasvah check that an animal is valid for Qurbani?
What does “do dant” mean?
Can I take a vet with me?
Is a share in a cow the same as buying a goat?
Where do I confirm the religious requirements?
Browse live listings
Read next
Timing your Qurbani around the Eid window
When the Qurbani days fall, why the date is confirmed locally, and how to plan a purchase around a moving calendar.
What to check before you buy
A practical inspection checklist for buyers: what to look at, what to ask, and when to walk away. Guidance, not veterinary advice.
Also on Qasvah
Ready to start?
Browse what is listed near you, or post an ad of your own.