What does Udhiya mean?

Islam > Glossary > Udhiya

Discover the meaning of the term Udhiya (أُضْحِية) in Islamic vocabulary.

Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition Udhiya

Udhiya according to Al-Kulliyat (Al-Kafawi)

Name of what is immolated, that is, slaughtered; plural adahi.

Udhiya according to Dustur al-'Ulama (Al-Ahmadnagari)

With damma of the hamza and its kasra, on the pattern ouf’oula of the alef-verb: named thus as its slaughtering is mostly in its time. In as-Sihah, from as-Soumayri: four names for it: oudhiyya, with damma and kasra of hamza, plural adahi like ouqiyya of wiqaya, its plural awaqi in strengthening and lightening, as in al-Maghrib; and dahiyya, plural dahaya like hadiyya and hadaya; and idha, plural idh like arta and arta. In al-Kermani (and the pronouns): oudhiyya in the sense of immolation; their description by obligation supports it. Said: oudhiyya related to al-idha; on this the correct is to say idhawiyya, for the third or fourth alef, if inverted, inverts to waw in relation, as established. Oudhiyya in the Law: name of what is slaughtered of the specified animal in the days of slaughter, intending nearness to Allah; so named for being slaughtered at forenoon’s time, the obligation named by its time’s name. Its detail in Charh al-Wiqaya: the oudhiyya is a sheep, a cow or camel to seven, if for one of the seven less than seven, even should one of the seven have less than seven: none may lawfully of any, the nearness’s description not dividing. It is due on every free Muslim, male or female, resident and well-off, for self not child, from dawn of the day of slaughter to sunset of the third day; the first day the tenth of Dhoul-Hijja, the last the twelfth, the last of slaughter’s days; as for the tachriq days, their first the eleventh of Dhoul-Hijja, their last the thirteenth: the tenth day of slaughter only, the thirteenth day of tachriq only, the eleventh and twelfth both. In al-Hisn al-Hasin: when he slaughters, let him name and takbir, set his foot on its flank, that is, present its cheek, and say over the oudhiyya: « In Allah’s name, O Allah, accept of me and of Mouhammad’s community: I have faced my face toward Him who created the heavens and the earth, on Ibrahim’s religion, upright, and not…

Udhiya according to Kitab at-Ta'rifat (Al-Jurjani)

Name of what is slaughtered in the slaughter days, intending nearness to Allah.

Udhiya according to Maqalid al-'Ulum (As-Suyuti)

What one draws near Allah by its slaughtering, of the flocks.

Udhiya according to At-Ta'rifat al-Fiqhiyya (Al-Barkati)

Name of what is slaughtered in the slaughter days, intending nearness to Allah.

Related terms: Udhiya

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