Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
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.
Dear questioner, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah, the Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake alone.
The sacrifice (udhiyah) is the sunnah of Prophets Ibrahim, Isma`il, and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them all). It reminds us of the great act of sacrifice that Prophets Ibrahim and Isma`il were willing to do for the sake of Almighty Allah. Allah spared the life of Prophet Isma`il, and He tells us that (We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice.) (As-Saffat 37:107)
It is not recommended to sell furniture to buy the sacrificial animal. There is nothing wrong in borrowing money to buy it as long as one is able to repay that money.
Responding to your question, Sheikh `Abdul-Bari Az-Zamzami, a member of the Moroccan Scholars’ Association, states:
Offering udhiyah (sacrifice) during `Eid Al-Adha is sunnah, not obligatory. Abu Bakr and `Umar did not offer sacrifice during their caliphate to show the people that it is not obligatory. A Muslim should not burden himself with what he cannot bear in order to get the money for the sacrifice. The Qur’an says: (Allah tasks not a soul beyond its scope.) (Al-Baqarah 2:286) The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Of what I asked you to do, do it as much as you can.”
Selling house furniture to buy the sacrifice is not recommended because the furniture is an essential thing in the house and no one can do without it. As for borrowing money to buy the sacrifice, if the one who is going to get that money from others is sure that he will be able to pay it back when it is due, then there is nothing wrong in borrowing this money.
Read also:
The Concept of Animal Sacrifice in Islam
Offering Sacrifice on `Eid Al-Adha: Obligatory?
Donating the Money Allocated for Udhiyah
If you are still in need of more information, don't hesitate to contact us. Do keep in touch. May Allah guide us all to the straight path!
Allah Almighty knows best.
