Offering
Udhiyah (sacrifice) during `Eid Al-Adha is regarded as Wajib
(mandatory) according to Imam Abu Hanifah and a as Sunnah
Mu'akkadah (stressed Sunnah) according to other jurists.
All
those people who have the Nisab (payable amount) of Zakah
should offer a sacrifice. The time for offering a sacrifice begins
after the `Eid Al-Adha prayer. According to a Hadith, the Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him) said that whosoever offered a
sacrifice before the `Eid prayer, he or she just slaughtered an
animal for meat, but whosoever made sacrifice after the `Eid
Al-Adha prayer, he or she has offered a sacrifice. (Reported by
Al-Bukhari)
Udhiyah
(sacrifice) is an act of worship ('ibadah). As we have the
times of prayers so we also have time for making a sacrifice
during `Eid Al-Adha. The time of sacrifice remains until sunset on
the 12th day Dhul-Hijjah. It is not required for the head of the
household to offer a separate Qurbani (sacrifice) for every
member of the house, rather one sacrifice would be sufficient for
the whole family. However, if other members of family own the Nisab
of Zakah, then they must offer their own sacrifice. One goat, lamb
or sheep is on behalf of one person, but seven people can share in
offering one cow or camel.
The
Udhiyah is the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Isma`il and
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them all) It has a meaning and
significance. It reminds us of the great act of sacrifice that
Prophet Ibrahim and Isma`il were willing to do for the sake of
Almighty Allah. Allah spared the life of Prophet Isma`eel, but He
told us that [And
We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice.]
(As-Saffaat 37:107). The "momentous sacrifice (dhibhin
'azhim) is the sacrifice of the billions of people who have
been remembering this tradition for the last four thousand years.
Other people who claim to follow Prophet Ibrahim have forgotten
this tradition, but we Muslims have kept it alive without any
interruption. We must keep this Sunnah and should not forget it.
There
is no substitute for Udhiyah. However, if one wants to offer a Nafl
(non-obligatory) sacrifice on behalf of oneself or one's deceased
parents or some other relatives, one has a choice either to make
Udhiyah or give the price of the animal in charity.
The
meat of the Udhiyah should be divided in three equal portions: one
for oneself and the family, one for friends, and one for the poor
and needy. If there are more poor people, then it is good to give
all of it in charity to the poor and needy. Here in US and Canada
we may not need the meat that much, but there are many other
places where people do not get meat. It is, perhaps, better for us
here in America if we give the money to some dependable relief
organizations in order to make Udhiyah on our behalf; and to
distribute the meat among the poor and needy in poor countries and
in countries where people are suffering due to wars, economic
sanctions or natural disasters.
