Some Rulings Related to the Sacrificial Animals
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Our brother Ahmad al-Shamrani from Hail asks the Shaykh about the ritual of the sacrificial animal and its rulings, and what is the ruling for one who does not adhere to it every year? And what is the ruling for one who exaggerates in it to the point of breaking the hearts of the poor?
Answer: The Sunnah regarding the sacrificial animal is for a person to sacrifice on behalf of himself and his household according to his ability, and Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. If he is wealthy, he sacrifices one sheep on behalf of himself and his household. If he is poor, he owes nothing, and he should not exaggerate or be severe in this matter; rather, he should be gentle in all matters.
Repeat your question, repeat your question, repeat the question.
The presenter: He says: Tell us about the ritual of the sacrificial animals and their rulings, and what is the ruling for one who does not adhere to it every year? And what is the ruling for one who exaggerates in it to the point of breaking the hearts of the poor?
Answer: The best of matters are their middles. The Sunnah is to maintain it if one is wealthy, to maintain it, but it is not obligatory. The correct view is that it is not obligatory; it is a recommended practice (sunnah) due to the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). One should not exaggerate in it in a way that harms others or burdens the poor. Rather, if it is easy for one, he sacrifices, and one sheep is sufficient for him and his household, and praise be to Allah. If it is difficult for him, there is no blame on him, and there is nothing wrong with leaving it. Its rulings are that he eats, gives in charity, and donates, as the Exalted said: [Surat al-Hajj: 28]. In the gifts and sacrifices, he eats what is easy for him, feeds the poor, and gives to his relatives. All of this is a recommended practice (mustahabb), and there is no specific limit in it.
Some scholars have seen the division into thirds, and that it is recommended to divide it into thirds: one third for himself and his household, one third to give to his relatives and neighbors, and one third for the poor. But this is not obligatory. If he does that, there is nothing wrong with it. If he eats more than a third, or gives more than a third, or gives most of it to the poor, there is nothing wrong with any of it, and praise be to Allah. The matter is broad, by the praise of Allah.
The presenter: So, the division into thirds is not a hadith?
The Shaykh: No, a hadith... We do not know of a valid (sahih) hadith in it. Hadiths are narrated in it, but they do not have established chains of narration (isnad).
Then, the sacrificial animal must be sound, like the pilgrimage sacrifice (hady). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: These do not suffice in sacrifices or gifts. The blind one is even more so; if the one-eyed one does not suffice, then the blind one is even more so. And likewise, the sick one whose sickness is apparent, whether it is scab or otherwise.
And likewise, the emaciated one that does not have marrow does not suffice in sacrifices.
And likewise, the lame one whose ribs are exposed such that it cannot walk with the sound ones and lags behind them, its lameness is clear.
And likewise, the one whose horn or ear is mostly gone, due to hadiths that have come regarding not sacrificing with it.
Likewise, the one whose tail is cut off is not sacrificed with; rather, one sacrifices with a sound sheep. As for having a slit or tear in the ear or something similar, this does not prevent sufficiency, but leaving this is better if a sound one is available, as it is better. But this tear and slit do not prevent sufficiency; it suffices, but the sound one is better.
And likewise, the one whose horn is partially cut off, meaning a little of its horn, not the majority, it suffices, but the sound one is better.
And likewise, the one whose tip of the ear is cut off but the majority remains, it suffices, but the sound one is better, and Allah is the Helper. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: The Sunnah regarding the sacrificial animal is for a person to sacrifice on behalf of himself and his household according to his ability, and Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. If he is wealthy, he sacrifices one sheep on behalf of himself and his household. If he is poor, he owes nothing, and he should not exaggerate or be severe in this matter; rather, he should be gentle in all matters.
Repeat your question, repeat your question, repeat the question.
The presenter: He says: Tell us about the ritual of the sacrificial animals and their rulings, and what is the ruling for one who does not adhere to it every year? And what is the ruling for one who exaggerates in it to the point of breaking the hearts of the poor?
Answer: The best of matters are their middles. The Sunnah is to maintain it if one is wealthy, to maintain it, but it is not obligatory. The correct view is that it is not obligatory; it is a recommended practice (sunnah) due to the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). One should not exaggerate in it in a way that harms others or burdens the poor. Rather, if it is easy for one, he sacrifices, and one sheep is sufficient for him and his household, and praise be to Allah. If it is difficult for him, there is no blame on him, and there is nothing wrong with leaving it. Its rulings are that he eats, gives in charity, and donates, as the Exalted said:
So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor.
فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْبَائِسَ الْفَقِيرَSome scholars have seen the division into thirds, and that it is recommended to divide it into thirds: one third for himself and his household, one third to give to his relatives and neighbors, and one third for the poor. But this is not obligatory. If he does that, there is nothing wrong with it. If he eats more than a third, or gives more than a third, or gives most of it to the poor, there is nothing wrong with any of it, and praise be to Allah. The matter is broad, by the praise of Allah.
The presenter: So, the division into thirds is not a hadith?
The Shaykh: No, a hadith... We do not know of a valid (sahih) hadith in it. Hadiths are narrated in it, but they do not have established chains of narration (isnad).
Then, the sacrificial animal must be sound, like the pilgrimage sacrifice (hady). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Four things do not suffice in sacrifices—and the same applies to gifts: the one-eyed one whose blindness is apparent, the lame one whose lameness is apparent, the sick one whose sickness is apparent, and the emaciated one that does not have marrow.
أربع لا تجوز في الأضاحي -ومثلها الهدايا-: العوراء البين عورها، والعرجاء البين عرجها، والمريضة البين مرضها، والهزيلة التي لا تنقيAnd likewise, the emaciated one that does not have marrow does not suffice in sacrifices.
And likewise, the lame one whose ribs are exposed such that it cannot walk with the sound ones and lags behind them, its lameness is clear.
And likewise, the one whose horn or ear is mostly gone, due to hadiths that have come regarding not sacrificing with it.
Likewise, the one whose tail is cut off is not sacrificed with; rather, one sacrifices with a sound sheep. As for having a slit or tear in the ear or something similar, this does not prevent sufficiency, but leaving this is better if a sound one is available, as it is better. But this tear and slit do not prevent sufficiency; it suffices, but the sound one is better.
And likewise, the one whose horn is partially cut off, meaning a little of its horn, not the majority, it suffices, but the sound one is better.
And likewise, the one whose tip of the ear is cut off but the majority remains, it suffices, but the sound one is better, and Allah is the Helper. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.