Qurban (Korban) Guide for Hari Raya Haji in Singapore

Qurban in Singapore is organised entirely through participating mosques. If you’ve heard people talk about “doing korban” around Hari Raya Haji and wondered what’s actually involved, here’s the short version: it’s the ritual sacrifice of livestock, and in Singapore it’s organised almost entirely through MUIS (the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore) via a programme called SalamSG Korban, rather than something individuals arrange privately. Here’s how it works, based on MUIS’s own 2026 programme details.

How SalamSG Korban Works

MUIS runs the programme through 55 participating mosques, split into two tracks:

• Overseas korban (51 mosques) — livestock (cattle, lamb, or sheep) is slaughtered in Australia under MUIS-endorsed arrangements. A portion of the sheep meat goes toward humanitarian support in Gaza, with the rest distributed to lower-income and vulnerable families in Singapore.
• Local korban (7 mosques, including Jamae Chulia Mosque and Al-Istighfar Mosque) — conducted locally by licensed MUIS-endorsed operators.

Qurban Singapore Pricing (2026)

Prices are set annually by MUIS and typically change slightly year to year, so treat the figures above as the 2026 benchmark rather than a fixed rate — always confirm the current year’s pricing before registering.

How to Register

Registration for 2026 opened on 9 April and closed 22 May, on a first-come, first-served basis — slots do fill up before the deadline, so it’s worth registering early rather than waiting until the last week. You can register online at korban.ourmasjid.sg or in person at any participating mosque, paying by PayNow, NETS, card, or cash.

What Happens to the Meat?

Participants who register receive chilled, pre-packed meat within about two weeks after Hari Raya Haji. The rest is distributed to beneficiaries, including lower-income families in Singapore and, for the overseas programme, humanitarian aid recipients abroad.

Who Qurban Singapore Is For, and What the Obligation Actually Is

Qurban — korban in Malay — is the ritual sacrifice performed during the days of Hari Raya Haji, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son and the ram provided in his place. In the Shafi’i school followed by most of Singapore’s Muslim community, it is sunnah muakkadah: strongly encouraged for anyone with the means, rather than obligatory.

“Having the means” is generally understood as being able to afford the animal without compromising your own or your dependants’ needs over the days of the festival. There is no fixed income threshold. One sheep or goat counts for one person and their household; a cow or buffalo is shared among seven contributors.

The sacrifice is valid only within a defined window — the day of Hari Raya Haji itself and the three days of tashriq that follow. An animal slaughtered before the Eid prayer, or after sunset on the final day, does not count as qurban. This is precisely why Singapore’s arrangement is centrally organised: the entire national operation has to be completed inside that window.

Why Singapore Does It This Way

Singapore does not permit private slaughter. There is no commercial abattoir on the island handling livestock at this scale, and animal welfare, food safety and public health rules make backyard sacrifice illegal. What exists instead is a regulated programme run through participating mosques under the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, with livestock imported and handled under veterinary supervision.

The practical effect is that the ritual is preserved while the process is professionalised. Animals are inspected on arrival, slaughter is performed by trained personnel according to halal requirements, and the meat is processed, packed and distributed within hours. For participants, the ritual intention remains theirs even though they do not perform the act themselves — this is permitted, and is how the majority of qurban worldwide is now carried out.

Participants may usually attend and witness the slaughter of their animal at the mosque, subject to capacity limits and registration. If witnessing matters to you, say so at the point of booking rather than assuming a place will be available.

Getting the Timing Right

Registration is the part people most often get wrong. Slots open well ahead of the festival and the popular mosques fill early — frequently weeks before the published closing date. Because the number of animals each mosque can handle is capped by physical space and veterinary clearance, a late applicant is not put on a waiting list so much as simply turned away.

A reasonable rule of thumb: start checking mosque announcements as soon as the Hari Raya Haji date is confirmed, and register within the first two weeks of slots opening. Note that the date itself shifts each year with the Islamic lunar calendar — 27 May in 2026, 17 May in 2027 and an estimated 5 May in 2028, as listed on our 2028 dates page.

If local slots are gone, overseas qurban through an approved charitable organisation is a widely accepted alternative. The meat is distributed to communities in need abroad, and the ritual is equally valid. What you give up is the ability to witness the sacrifice or receive a portion of the meat yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources: Qurban in Singapore is administered through participating mosques under the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS). Holiday dates are checked against the Ministry of Manpower’s official public holiday list.