Book of Sacrificial Animals (al-Adahi)

The fundamental basis for the legitimacy of the sacrifice (udhiyah) is the Book (Quran), the Sunnah, and consensus (ijma'). As for the Book, it is the saying of Allah, the Almighty: {Therefore pray to your Lord and sacrifice} (1). Some exegetes have said that what is intended by this is the sacrifice after the Eid prayer. As for the Sunnah, it is what Anas narrated, who said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) sacrificed two horned, white-and-black rams, slaughtering them with his own hand, mentioning the name of Allah, magnifying (saying Allahu Akbar), and placing his foot on their flanks. This is agreed upon (2). The 'amlah' (white-and-black) is that which has whiteness and blackness, with its whiteness being predominant. This was stated by al-Kisa'i. Ibn al-A'rabi said: It is that which is pure white. The poet said (3):

Until the head was covered with a grey veil, White, neither pleasurable nor loved.

And the Muslims have reached a consensus on the legitimacy of the sacrifice.

1748 - Issue; he said: (And the sacrifice is a Sunnah; it is not recommended to abandon it for one who is able (1) to perform it.)

Most scholars of knowledge consider the sacrifice to be a confirmed Sunnah, not an obligation. This has been narrated from Abu Bakr, Umar, Bilal, and Abu Mas'ud al-Badri, may Allah be pleased with them. This is also the position of Suwayd ibn Ghafalah, Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib, Alqamah, al-Aswad, Ata', al-Shafi'i, Ishaq, Abu Thawr, and Ibn al-Mundhir. Rabi'ah, Malik, al-Thawri, al-Awza'i, al-Layth, and Abu Hanifah said: It is obligatory, based on what Abu Hurayrah narrated, that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever has the means and does not offer a sacrifice, then let him not approach our place of prayer" (2). And from Mikhnaf ibn Sulaym, that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O people, every household must offer a sacrifice and an 'atirah (a ritual slaughter in Rajab) every year" (3). Our evidence is what al-Daraqutni narrated (4) with his chain of narration from Ibn Abbas, from the Prophet (peace be upon him), who said: "Three things were prescribed upon me, and for you they are voluntary." In one narration: "The Witr, the sacrifice, and the two rak'ahs of Fajr." Furthermore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever wants to offer a sacrifice and the ten days (of Dhu al-Hijjah) have begun, let him not take anything from his hair or his skin." Narrated by Muslim (5). He tied it to the 'desire' (to offer a sacrifice), and an obligation is not tied to desire. Moreover, it is a sacrifice for which the distribution of its meat was not made mandatory, so it is not obligatory, like the 'aqiqah (sacrifice for a newborn). As for their hadith, the scholars of hadith have weakened it; furthermore, we interpret it as a confirmation of recommendation, just as he said: "The Friday ghusl is obligatory for every pubescent person" (6), and he said: "Whoever eats from these two trees, let him not approach our place of prayer" (7). It has been narrated from Ahmad, regarding the orphan: His guardian should sacrifice on his behalf if he is wealthy. This is by way of expansion during the day of Eid, not by way of obligation.

Section: The sacrifice is better than charity equal to its value. Ahmad explicitly stated this. This was also the view of Rabi'ah and Abu al-Zinad. It was narrated from Bilal that he said: I do not care if I do not sacrifice anything but a rooster, and that I place its value with an orphan.