The Ruling on a Stolen Sacrificial Animal and the Virtue of Slaughtering It Oneself

Question : Your Eminence the Shaykh! If a person designates a sacrificial animal and it is then stolen, does it suffice for him?

Answer : It does not suffice for you. Because he did not slaughter it, and the purpose of the udhiyah is to draw near to Allah the Exalted by slaughtering it. This, which I mean the intention to draw near to Allah the Exalted by slaughtering it, is overlooked by many people. Many people think that the purpose of the udhiyah is to benefit from its meat and give it in charity. Therefore, an initiative has emerged calling on people to offer money and have the sacrifice performed on their behalf in other countries. This is a great error, an error. The purpose of the udhiyah is to draw near to Allah the Exalted by slaughtering it above all else, because drawing near to Allah through slaughter is linked to prayer. Allah the Exalted said: "So pray to your Lord and sacrifice." And Allah the Exalted said, in clarifying that the purpose is to draw near to Him through slaughter: . If this idea becomes widespread, the lands will eventually be devoid of this great ritual, which is the udhiyah, because it is easy for every person to hand over money and be spared the worry and effort of the udhiyah, if that achieves the purpose.
However, even if it is said that the purpose is achieved by this, the perfection of the purpose is not achieved. Allah the Exalted said: "So remember " He began with eating from it and began with mentioning the name of Allah over it at the time of slaughter, and He made it one of the rituals of Allah. How can you be content with a ritual of the rituals of Allah being slaughtered in a distant place where you do not see it, do not know it, do not know who slaughtered it, and do not know whether it was slaughtered in a valid manner or not? And you do not know whether it was slaughtered at its proper time or not? All of this is possible, no matter how much we trust those who collect for it. Therefore, we should spread awareness among the citizens and say that the prescribed udhiyah, by which the perfection of the purpose is achieved, is to slaughter it in your country. And if it happens that you slaughter it in your house, where the family sees it, rejoices in it, and takes pride in it, that is better. For this reason, it is prescribed for a person in the udhiyah to take charge of slaughtering it himself. He eats from it, gives gifts, and gives charity.
Look at the ruling of Allah the Majestic and Mighty when the pilgrims used to draw near to Allah in the land of the hady. He prescribed for His servants in other lands that had not reached this level to sacrifice, so that the ritual of slaughter for Allah the Majestic and Mighty would be established in all Islamic lands. As for our poor brothers in other lands, we will not prevent them from what their Muslim brothers are generous with. We say: send them maintenance, send them money, send them clothing, send them bedding. The doors of good are many. As for a ritual that Allah the Exalted made one of His rituals, and a person slaughters it himself if possible, and if not possible, he appoints someone to slaughter it and be present, do not be negligent with it, my brother, do not be negligent with it. Do not let emotion prevent you from reflecting on the Shari'ah, its purpose, and its ruling. Yes.