Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salaam Alaikum,

I would like to know if one can distribute the sacrificial meat from the Bakri-Eid sacrifice amongst even non believers. Relatives tell me it should be distributed only amongst muslims.

Also, i would like to know how my mother can pray the Eid namaz at home alone. I have also heard that the Eid Namaz is only sunnat and not farz, but extremely important. I pray it

nonetheless but what is the truth.

Thankyou,

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Answer:

Distribute sacrifice meat to nonmuslims

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: ....I would like to know if one can distribute the sacrificial meat from the Bakri-Eid sacrifice amongst even non believers. Relatives tell me it should be distributed only amongst muslims.
To the best of our knowledge, there is absolutely no specific restriction or prohibition in the Quran or the Sunnah regarding the distributing of sacrificial meat to disbelievers.

If one wishes to give a portion of one’s sacrificial meat to a disbeliever, there is absolutely no harm.

Your Question: ….Also, i would like to know how my mother can pray the Eid namaz at home

alone.

The prayers of the two Eids are congregational prayers, and if one wishes to offer the Eid prayers one must do so only in congregation with the believers. It is neither permissible nor acceptable for a believer to offer the Eid prayers alone by themselves.

Your Question: ….I have also heard that the Eid Namaz is only sunnat and not farz, but extremely important. I pray it nonetheless but what is the truth.

Please allow us to clarify the difference between Fard, Sunnah and Nafl prayers.

Fard prayers: These are the five obligatory prayers at their appointed times of the day. If one prays them, he will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there will be a severe accounting and punishment.

Nafl prayers: These are the voluntary or non-obligatory prayers. If one prays them, he will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there is no sin.

Sunnah prayers: These are the Nafl or voluntary prayers which were prayed by the Messenger of Allah (saws), and thus they become his (saw’s) Sunnah for us. If one prays them, he will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there is no sin. The most that can be said of one who does not pray the Sunnah prayers is that he lost a great opportunity to earn huge rewards from Allah Subhanah.

The majority of the scholars and jurists in Islam have classified the prayers of the two Eids as Sunnah-Muaqqedah prayers; ie. voluntary prayers which were extremely preferred by the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan