Regarding the ruling on the 'Id sacrifice, is it obligatory or a recommended practice?

The questioner : Regarding the ruling on the 'Id sacrifice, is it obligatory or a recommended practice? If it is a recommended practice, how do we deal with the hadith of Umm Salama in Muslim, whose wording is , given that al-San'ani transmitted from al-Shafi'i his statement that delegating the matter to human will implies that it is not obligatory?

The Shaykh : The reality is that this is a doubt that has no value from the perspective of the texts of the Shari'ah. "And whoever among you wishes to offer a sacrifice" — we say that attributing the command to human will has a very significant relationship to our previous topic, namely that a person is obligated to worship and obedience. Therefore, he must desire it, perform it, and carry it out. If he does not desire it, Allah the Exalted does not impose it on him as a strict obligation or force him to do it. No, the point here is that the ruling for one who wishes to offer a sacrifice is attributed to human will. This is very clear in the Qur'an itself: So, adhering to this understanding, unfortunately, means that this understanding is attributed to some of the imams. By analogy with this understanding, it would result in the conclusion that steadfastness is not obligatory. Why? Because Allah the Exalted attributed it to our will. Everything He commanded us to do requires our will and desire to perform it. Therefore, before knowing what is reserved for us or hidden from us in questions like this, we said that will is of two types: cosmic will and legislative will. The discussion is not about cosmic will, but about legislative will. You must do it; if you do not do it, the matter shifts from legislative will to cosmic will, because nothing happens in this universe against the will of Allah the Exalted. So here, when Allah the Exalted said , why did He attribute steadfastness to will? Because all legislative obligations are linked to it. An example of what we are saying, although the verse is sufficient and comprehensive in that regard, but by way of elaboration, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Here too, will is attributed to the person. In what? In Hajj, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. Does that mean Hajj is not obligatory? The answer is no, but every obligatory act requires a will that issues from this person for him to be held accountable. Otherwise, if he has no will, he is not held accountable. Therefore, the pen is lifted from three, as you know, in the authentic hadith: Anyone else?

The questioner : Added to the above is that this hadith, "and whoever among you wishes to offer a sacrifice," is not presented to explain the ruling on the 'Id sacrifice, but to explain something else, which is that one should not take anything from his head or his nails. As for what is specifically presented for that purpose, it is, for example, the hadith: Here, the ruling is explained, whereas that one explains the prohibition of taking anything from one's nails or hair.

The Shaykh : Correct.