Qurbani Share Splitter — 7-Person Cow Calculator

The Qurbani Share Splitter is a free, browser-based tool that divides a qurbani cow into up to 7 fair shares per the authentic Islamic ruling. Enter the total cow price, name each shareholder, set their share count, and the tool calculates cost-per-person, meat distribution in kilograms, and the 1/3 self-family-poor breakdown. Then generate a WhatsApp-ready card showing the full split. Last updated 2026-05.

How a 7-Share Cow Works in Islam

According to a sahih hadith narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah (Sahih Muslim 1318, Sunan al-Tirmidhi 905), the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ permitted up to seven people to share one cow or camel for qurbani during Eid ul Adha. Each shareholder owns exactly one-seventh of the animal regardless of how the price is split among them. This is the consensus position (ittifaq) across the four Sunni madhabs — Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali — though Maliki scholars prefer one animal per family when financially possible. A goat, sheep, or lamb is a one-share animal and cannot be divided. A single person can also buy multiple shares (2, 3, or more) in the same cow if they wish to make qurbani on behalf of others — for example, a husband buying one share for himself, one for his wife, and one for each parent (Fatwa: Darul Ifta Deoband ruling D-3742).

Calculating Each Person's Cost Fairly

The fair cost per share is the total cow price divided by 7. For example, a ৳105,000 cow gives a per-share cost of ৳15,000. If a shareholder buys 2 shares, they pay ৳30,000. Always agree on the price BEFORE the slaughter — disputes after the qurbani are common and Islamically discouraged. Three best practices for groups: (1) Collect each person's contribution in advance and hand it to the designated buyer with witnesses; (2) Keep a written or WhatsApp message log showing who contributed what; (3) Decide upfront whether to split the cost of butcher service, transport, and skin/hide disposal separately or include it in the share price. Many Bangladeshi haats add 5-10% to the slaughter and cutting fee — clarify if this is included in the quoted cow price or added separately.

Meat Distribution: The 1/3 Rule for Each Shareholder

After the qurbani, total edible meat is divided into 7 equal portions by weight (not by visual size). A standard 300 kg live-weight cow yields about 150 kg of edible meat after the butcher removes bones, skin, and offal — roughly 21 kg per share. From their 21 kg, each shareholder traditionally splits the meat three ways: 33% (about 7 kg) for their own family, 33% (about 7 kg) for relatives, friends, and neighbors, and 34% (about 7 kg) for the poor and needy. The 1/3 distribution is mustahabb (strongly recommended) per Hanafi and Shafi'i fiqh — not obligatory — but ignoring the poor entirely defeats the spirit of qurbani. Many families also donate the hide (animal skin) separately to a madrasa or charity as additional sadaqah.

Common Family Share Disputes and How to Avoid Them

• "My share got more bone": Avoid by weighing each share on a calibrated scale at the haat — most professional butchers offer this. Refuse visual estimation.
• "My share was the small piece": Bag and label each share with the shareholder's name before pickup. Use the order on this calculator's table.
• "I paid extra but got the same meat": Equal share = equal meat regardless of price contribution. If someone subsidizes another, treat it as sadaqah — not extra ownership.
• "Father's name should be first on the card": Put the eldest shareholder first in the list — it removes ambiguity and respects local custom.
• "Who pays for the butcher?": Split butcher fee equally among shareholders unless one person volunteered to host the slaughter, in which case 1-2 shares can cover the service.
• "Can my non-Muslim friend join the 7-share cow?": No — qurbani must be intended as ibadah (worship), so all shareholders must be Muslim. Your non-Muslim friend can receive a portion of meat as a gift, but cannot be a shareholder (Fatwa: Islamic Fiqh Academy India 2018).