Ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen rahimahullah criticizes the action of sending money back home to get the aqeeqah done there instead of the land the person resides in.
Likewise Shaykh Bin Baz has similar speech on the matter:
ويأكل منها، ويُطعم مَن شاء من جيرانٍ وأقارب وغيرهم، أو يُوزِّعها، يتصدَّق ويُوزِّعها، ولا يُوزِّعها للخارج
Also this is the advice of Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan hafidaho-Allah as he mentions,
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)” End translation. [Fataawa al-Fawzaan (6752)]
The scholars say the main objective of performing the aqeeqah is not merely to benefit from its meat. However, [another objective is] to make this ritual and symbol manifest and apparent among yourself, families, friends, and neighbours.
Translated and mentioned by
AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman
Abu Fajr
