The Permanent Committee was asked the following question:
Question:
If someone cooks their Udhiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims) and gives from it to the relatives and neighbors, do they follow the Sunnah (action following the teachings of the Prophet) by that or not?
Answer:
It is Mustahab (desirable) for a Muslim offering an Udhiyah to eat from it with his family, save a part of it, give in charity to the needy from it, and give the relatives and neighbors from it. Allah Almighty says:
Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor having a hard time.
[22:28]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, regarding the Udhiyah: Eat, preserve and give in charity.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’
Ash-Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, may Allah preserve him, said:
يا إخواني : الأضحية شعيرة تذبح في البيوت ، وفي البلد ، وتوزع على الجيران ، ما يجي تروح لبلد آخر وبالخارج ، هذه صدقة ، ما تصير أضحية ، هذه صدقة من الصدقات ، الأضحية السنة أنها تذبح في البيت ، في بيت المضحي لأنها عبادة يحل من أجلها وبركتها على أهل البيت ، يأكلون منها ، يتصدقون ويهدون ، هذا هو السنة ، أما إذا روحت للخارج ما حصلت هذه المقاصد ، ما حصلت هذه المقاصد الشرعية ، تُسمى هذه صدقة ، ما هي بأضحية))اهـ
Oh my fellow brothers! The udhiyah (i.e. sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims) is a symbol (of our commitment to Allah) that should be slaughtered in the houses and in the town (wherein one is residing). And it should be distributed to the neighbours and it shouldn’t be sent to another town and aboard (overseas) (since) that will only be sadaqah and it will not become an udhiyah. (And thus), it will be similar to the rest of the acts of sadaqah. The Sunnah is that the udhiyah be slaughtered in the house, in the house of the one making the sacrifice. (This is) since it is an act of worship of which its blessing will occur (e.g. be present) for the household. They should eat from it, give sadaqah from it, and give gifts from it. This is the sunnah. And as for if it is sent aboard, then such goals wouldn’t have been achieved. (Verily) these legislated goals wouldn’t have been accomplished. It will be merely called sadaqah and it won’t be an Udhiyah (i.e. Sacrifice) ”
Reference: Fataawa al-Fawzaan (6752).
