The Ruling on the 'Id Sacrifice and Who Is Obligated to Perform It

Question:
The brother 'Ammar from the Emirates says: Is the 'Id sacrifice obligatory or a recommended practice? Who is obligated to perform the 'Id sacrifice? And is it performed every year?

Answer:
The udhiyah is not obligatory except by a vow; otherwise, the default is that it is recommended. The default is that it is a recommended practice and a confirmed sunnah for those who are well-off. It is repeated every year; it is better that it be repeated. If he does it or does not do it—if he does it sometimes or does not do it at all—it is not obligatory. If he does it, there is great virtue in it, much good. He should persist in it every year because of the good it brings to the household, the establishment of the community, and the reviving of the sunnah. However, it should be done in the homes, because some people nowadays are lax with the udhiyah. They either go abroad, and abroad they send him charity and donations. As for the sunnah, it is applied and practiced in the country and in the same homes, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do it, so that its effect is realized for the household, they rejoice in it, and they establish this ritual in their home. This is what is prescribed. Yes.