Prayer TimesAccording to the Hanafi school, offering a sacrifice during the days of Eid al-Adha is wajib (obligatory) for a resident (not a traveler), wealthy, free Muslim[1].
Allah the Almighty says in the Qur'an:
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ
“So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone]!”[2] – He commanded.
This command here indicates a wajib (obligatory) ruling. What was made obligatory for our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is also obligatory for his ummah, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent as an example for his community[3].
Allah the Almighty also says:
... وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ ۖ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْبَائِسَ الْفَقِيرَ
“... and mention the name of Allah on known days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor.”[4]
When the companions asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about the significance of this act of worship, he replied:
“Offering a sacrifice is the tradition of your forefather Ibrahim (peace be upon him). For every hair on the sacrificial animal, you will receive a reward.”[5]
Hanafi jurists have stated that this command applies to the Muslim ummah as well, and have considered offering a sacrifice as wajib (an obligatory act of worship). This is supported by the hadith narrated from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him), in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
مَنْ وجدَ سَعَةً فلَم يُضَحِّ فلا يَقْرَبنَّ مُصَلاَّنا
“Whoever has the means but does not offer a sacrifice, let him not come near our place of prayer.”[6] – he warned strictly.
However, according to one opinion of Imam Yusuf and Imam Muhammad, and in the Maliki and Shafi'i schools, offering a sacrifice is considered sunnah. They cite the following hadith as evidence:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
إذا رَأَيْتُمْ هِلالَ ذِي الحِجَّةِ وأَرادَ أحَدُكُمْ أنْ يُضَحِّيَ فَلْيُمْسِكْ عن شَعْرِهِ وأَظْفارِهِ
“When you see the crescent of Dhul-Hijjah and one of you wants to offer a sacrifice, let him not cut his hair or nails,”[7] he said. The phrase “wants to offer a sacrifice” indicates that this act is not obligatory in our Sharia[8]. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “Three things have been made obligatory for me, but are voluntary for you: Witr prayer, offering a sacrifice, and the Eid prayer.”[9]
[1] Jawhara Nayira, 5/478.
[2] Surah Kawthar, verse 2.
[3] Bada'i as-Sana'i, 10/245.
[4] Surah Hajj, verse 28.
[5] Narrated by Ibn Majah.
[6] Narrated by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani.
[7] Narrated by Muslim.
[8] Fath Bab al-Ghinaya, 3/284.
[9] Narrated by Ahmad and Hakim.
This content was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by an editor.