Udhiyya (Eid sacrifice)

The udhiyya (sacrificial animal) — also called dahiyya, plural adahi/dahaya — is, in the law, what is slaughtered seeking nearness to God on the days of nahr; the Day of Sacrifice is named for it. What is slaughtered for sale or food is not of it, nor what is slaughtered outside those days, nor the 'aqiqa or the compensations of pilgrimage. ¹

Qurban is broader — anything offered for nearness, slaughtered or not. The hady is what is slaughtered of livestock in the Sanctuary on the days of nahr for tamattu', qiran, or to redress a rite; when intended purely for nearness it resembles the udhiyya so closely that only intention separates them: the hady's vower intends an offering conveyed to the Sanctuary, the udhiyya's intends slaughter specific to the excellent days. ^{1 2}

The 'aqiqa is slaughtered in thanks for a newborn; the udhiyya thanks for the blessing of life itself. The far' — the first-born of the flock which the Jahiliyya slaughtered for their idols — came to be slaughtered for God, and the 'atira — a Rajab sacrifice to their deities — likewise, without obligation or fixed time. ²