Qurbani
The sacrifice of a livestock animal at Eid al-Adha, in which a cow may be shared among seven people.
Also: udhiyah, kurban, Eid al-Adha sacrifice
Qurbani, or udhiyah in Arabic, is the sacrifice of an animal during the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, remembering Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son and God's provision of a ram in his place. Sheep, goats, cattle and camels may be offered; in Islamic law a cow or a camel can be shared by up to seven people, while a sheep or goat counts for one. The meat is traditionally divided among the family, relatives and friends, and those in need. In Bangladesh, Pakistan and parts of Africa and Indonesia, large cattle markets are held in the weeks before Eid, and many families buy a cow together.