Q:

I forgot and had my haircut after the beginning of Dhul-Hijjah. Can I offer udhiyah? 

A:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Thank you for your good question.

A person who intends to offer udhiyyah/qurbani is recommended, according to the majority of the Muslim scholars, not to cut his/her hair or nail when he/she sees the new moon of Dhul-Hijjah.

It was narrated from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) said, “When you see the new moon of Dhul-Hijjah and one of you wants to offer a sacrifice, let him/her refrain from (removing anything from) his/her hair or nails” (Muslim).

Based on the above narration, Imam Ash-Shafi`i and other scholars hold the opinion that it is disliked for the person who intends to offer a sacrifice to cut his/her hair or nails on Dhul-Hijjah days until he or she offers the udhiyyah/qurbani.

Imam Abu Hanifa and other scholars, however, consider it permissible for the person who intends to offer a sacrifice to cut his/her hair or nails on Dhul-Hijjah days. This opinion is founded on the narration of Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her). Sh said; “I twisted with my own hands the garlands for the hadi (cattle selected for sacrifice) of the Prophet (peace be on him) who garlanded and marked them, and then made them proceed to Makkah; yet no permissible thing was regarded as impermissible for him then.” (Agreed on hadith) This denotes the permissibility of cutting hair and nails.

Given the above, what you have done if OK. May Allah accept your udhiyah/qurbani, Ameen.

May Allah accept your and our good deeds!

Allah Almighty knows best.