The Ruling on the Udhiyah for the Pilgrim and Delegating It

Question:
He says in his question: Is it preferable for one who performs Hajj to delegate someone to slaughter the udhiyah on his behalf, or is it better for him not to slaughter the udhiyah at all, even if his Hajj is ifrad (performed alone)?

Answer:
The udhiyah is not like the hadith [referring to a specific ruling or context], the udhiyah is general and prescribed for all people, whether in cities or the desert, in villages or towns; it is not specific to pilgrims. The udhiyah is recommended (mustahabb); the minimum is one animal, which a person slaughters for himself and his household. He said: , and the second is for those whom Allah has purified from His Ummah, peace and blessings be upon him. The udhiyah is a recommended practice (sunnah), so the pilgrim should direct his household to slaughter it so that they benefit from it. If no one in his house slaughters it in Makkah, or if he directs one of his neighbors and they say they will slaughter it, it may be more beneficial for them there, because there are many sacrificial animals in Mina and much meat. However, if he slaughters in his village or among his group, it may be more beneficial for them there, because they are in need of meat. If he names it in someone’s house and directs some of his relatives or neighbors to slaughter it and they benefit from it, that is better from the perspective of being here, and the people here have an abundance of meat. Whether he is performing ifrad, qiran, or tamattu’, each person [has this ruling]. However, ifrad is better for him if he reaches his age [meaning, if he is in a state where he can complete the rites] and does not remain in ifrad. For one who enters ihram for Hajj, it is better for him, if he reaches his age, to perform tawaf with his [pilgrimage] and shorten his hair and exit [ihram], and not remain in ifrad, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded his Companions to do. Likewise, one who enters ihram for qiran with Hajj and 'Umrah and does not have a sacrificial animal, the preference is the same: he performs tawaf and sa'y and shortens his hair, and exits the state of 'Umrah, and the sacrificial animal is upon him, the hady of tamattu’. But if he remains in his ihram as a pilgrim performing ifrad or a pilgrim performing qiran and does not exit before Hajj, but remains in his ihram, then if he is performing qiran, the hady of tamattu’ is upon him. And if he is not performing qiran, like the pilgrim performing ifrad, nothing is upon him. But his action is [described as] "mawa'iz" [likely a transcription error for "mawquf" or similar, meaning his state is held/suspended]. The one performing qiran and the one performing ifrad, their action is [held/suspended]. They perform tawaf and sa'y, and nothing is upon them except this. In both cases, the one performing tamattu’ performs sa'y first and tawaf first in his 'Umrah, shortens his hair, then performs tawaf and sa'y after Hajj for the Hajj. As for the one performing qiran and the one performing ifrad, nothing is upon them except one tawaf [of arrival]. If they perform sa'y before Hajj and remain in their ihram, only the tawaf remains upon them. They perform tawaf after the festival, on the day of the festival, or after the tawaf of [arrival] for Hajj. And the udhiyah is not upon him. If he slaughters the udhiyah, there is no harm. And if he directs his household as mentioned before, that is better. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you.