Is it permissible to give charity instead of offering a sacrifice?

According to the Hanafi madhhab, it is wajib (obligatory) for a wealthy, resident, free Muslim to offer a sacrifice during the days of Eid al-Adha.

Allah the Almighty says in the Qur'an:

فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ

“So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].” [2]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ سَعَةٌ وَلَمَ يُضَحِّ فَلاَ يَقرَبَنَّ مُصَلَّاَنَا

“Whoever has the means but does not offer a sacrifice, let him not come near our place of prayer.” [3] This warning is directed at those who neglect this obligatory act.

In another hadith:

مَنْ ذَبَحَ قَبْلَ الصَّلَاةِ فَلْيَذْبَحْ شَاةً مَكَانهَا وَمَنْ لَمَ يَكُنْ ذَبَحْ فَلْيَذْبَحْ عَلَى اسْمِ اللَّهِ

“Whoever slaughters his sacrifice before the prayer, let him slaughter another in its place. And whoever has not yet slaughtered, let him slaughter in the name of Allah.” [4]

Therefore, in our madhhab, it is not correct to simply give the money as charity instead of slaughtering the sacrificial animal during the days of Eid al-Adha. According to the Sharia, it is obligatory to slaughter the animal and shed its blood. [5]

However, if someone is unable to slaughter the animal during the days of Eid after having already bought it, he should give the animal itself as charity while it is still alive. If the animal has already been slaughtered, then all of its meat should be distributed to those in need, and he should not eat any of it himself. This is because, after the time for sacrifice has passed, the obligation changes from sacrifice to charity. If the animal has not yet been purchased, then he should give charity equal to the value of the sacrifice.

In summary, a person who is obliged to offer a sacrifice must slaughter a specific animal and shed its blood.

Sharia and Fatwa Department of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan

• [1] A wealthy person is one who, on the day of Eid al-Adha, possesses wealth in excess of his and his family's basic needs, reaching the nisab for zakat (the equivalent of 85 grams of gold, 40 sheep, 30 cattle, or 5 camels).

• [2] Surah al-Kawthar, verse 2.

• [3] Narrated by Ahmad.

• [4] Narrated by Muslim.

• [5] Radd al-Muhtar, 9/454.