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:

Assalamou Alykoum wa rahmatou ALLAH .

I have slaughtered a sheep for the occasion of Aid Adha and because my parents didn`t have anough money to buy one for them to slaughter it, i have shared the sheep equally with them,

Tell me please, by doing this have i done what should be done (ie. when we are required to offer 3/4 of the sheep for Allah`s sake), or this does not count and i should share again my part with poor people

May Allah reward you

Thanks

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Answer:

Distribute share sacrifice

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: ……because my parents didn`t have anough money to buy one for them to slaughter it, i have shared the sheep equally with them,

Beloved brother in Islam, firstly for one who is not on the Hajj pilgrimage, the offering of a sacrifice on the Day of Adha is not obligatory, but rather a preferred Sunnah and thus voluntary and optional.

Secondly, it is perfectly acceptable and lawful in Shariah if one wishes or chooses or can afford to offer only one animal as sacrifice for oneself, one’s family, and one’s household combined.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 4845 Narrated by Aisha

Allah's Messenger (saws) commanded that a ram with black legs, black belly and black (circles) round the eyes should be brought to him, so that he should sacrifice it. He (saws) said to Aisha: “Give me the large knife”, and then said: “Sharpen it on a stone.” She did that. He (saws) then took it (the knife) and then the ram; he placed it on the ground and then sacrificed it, saying: “In the name of Allah, O Allah, accept (this sacrifice) on behalf of Muhammad, and the family of Muhammad, and the Ummah of Muhammad".

Al-Muwatta Hadith 23.10

Yahya related from Malik from Umara ibn Yasar that Ata ibn Yasar told him that Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (a companion of the Prophet (saws)) had told him, "We used to sacrifice one sheep, and a man sacrificed for himself and his family. “

Your Question: ….tell me please, by doing this have i done what should be done (ie. when we are required to offer 3/4 of the sheep for Allah`s sake), or this does not count and i should share again my part with poor people

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 37:

37 It is not their (the sacrificial animal’s) meat nor their blood that reaches Allah: it is your piety that reaches Him: He has thus made them (the animals) subject to you that ye may glorify Allah for His guidance to you: and proclaim the good news to all who do right.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verses 36-37:

36 The sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the Symbols from Allah: in them is (much) good for you: then pronounce the name of Allah over them as they line up (for sacrifice): when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat ye thereof, and feed such as (beg not, but) live in contentment, and such as beg with due humility: thus have we made animals subject to you that ye may be grateful.

37 It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah: it is your piety that reaches Him: He has thus made them subject to you that ye may glorify Allah for His guidance to you: and proclaim the Good News to all who do right.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.476 Narrated by Salama bin Al Aqua

The Prophet (saws) said: “ (Of the Sacrifice) eat of it, and feed of it to others, and store of it.”

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 5.115

A person offering a sacrifice may consume, without any restrictions, any amount of meat he may desire. He may likewise give away, or offer in charity any amount he may wish. Some scholars say that one may eat half, and give away the other half in charity, while others say that the meat be divided into three parts. Of these one may keep a part, distribute a part, and give in charity the third part.

The Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was to consume a part of the sacrifice meat, distribute a part of it amongst his companions, and give a part of it to the poor and needy.

If one wishes, one may eat all or part of it, or distribute all or part of it, or give to the poor all or part of it. There is absolutely no restriction on how one should consume the sacrificial meat, but it would be best and closest to the Sunnah to eat some oneself, distribute some, and give some to the poor and needy.

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