The ruling on the 'Id sacrifice on behalf of a deceased person if he did not bequeath it

Question: What is your opinion regarding the 'Id sacrifice on behalf of a deceased person without a bequest? Is it permissible for the living to share in it with the deceased, or not?


Answer: The 'Id sacrifice is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah), unless it is a bequest, in which case it is obligatory to carry it out. It is prescribed for a person to be generous to his deceased relatives through the 'Id sacrifice, and it is permissible for the deceased to share in it with the living from the household of the one who performs the sacrifice.
The basis for this is the hadith of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) : "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sacrificed two white, horned rams, slaughtered them with his own hand, and said the name of Allah and magnified Him." It is agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim. In another narration, it is explained that he slaughtered one on his behalf and on behalf of his household, and the second on behalf of everyone in his ummah who declared the oneness of Allah, and this includes the living and the deceased.
And from 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), that a man asked Ibn 'Umar about the 'Id sacrifice: "Is it obligatory?" He said: , so he repeated it to him, and he said: , so he repeated it to him, and he said: . Al-Tirmidhi narrated it, and his intention (may Allah be pleased with him) was to clarify that the 'Id sacrifice is prescribed for every Muslim; following the example of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Muslims.