The Committed Believer · Sacrifice & the Newborn

Sacrifice Etiquette and Procedures

Explore rules for udhiyah preparation, shared offerings, and missed aqeeqah responsibilities.

5 questions · Medium · about 4 minutes

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1. If someone is offering udhiyah and also performs Hajj or ‘umrah, may they cut or shave hair when exiting ihram?

  • Yes, because cutting or shaving then is part of the ritual. (correct answer)
  • No, they must remain in ihram until the udhiyah is slaughtered.
  • Only if someone else did not slaughter on their behalf.
  • Only if they are not doing tamattu‘.

Why

The person offering udhiyah should avoid removing hair, nails, or skin after the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah begin. However, if that person is also doing Hajj or ‘umrah, they must still cut or shave the hair when exiting ihram, because that is one of the rituals. This applies even if the pilgrim appointed someone else to slaughter the udhiyah in their home country.

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2. When offering udhiyah on behalf of another person, what may the slaughterer say as part of the recommended wording?

  • “This is on behalf of [So and So].” (correct answer)
  • “This is only charity, not sacrifice.”
  • “This sacrifice has no owner.”
  • “This is offered without any intention.”

Why

The Sunnah wording when slaughtering udhiyah includes saying Bismillah, Allahu akbar, “O Allah, this is from You and to You,” and mentioning on whose behalf the sacrifice is offered. If it is offered for someone else, one may say, “This is on behalf of [So and So],” and ask Allah to accept it from that person and their family. Mentioning the person by name is recommended, while the intention itself is what determines on whose behalf it is offered.

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3. What is obligatory to say when slaughtering an udhiyah?

  • Bismillah. (correct answer)
  • Allahumma hadha minka wa laka.
  • Allahumma taqabbal min [fulan].
  • A long personal du‘a.

Why

When slaughtering the udhiyah, saying Bismillah is obligatory. The rest of the wording, such as saying Allahu akbar, “O Allah, this is from You and to You,” and asking Allah to accept the sacrifice, is mustahabb but not obligatory. The Prophet ﷺ said Bismillah and Allahu akbar when slaughtering, and he also made du‘a for acceptance.

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4. If Islamic slaughter cannot be carried out where someone lives, what is the better course for udhiyah or ‘aqeeqah?

  • Send money to someone trustworthy who can slaughter it in another suitable place. (correct answer)
  • Replace the sacrifice with symbolic gestures.
  • Always give the price in charity instead.
  • Abandon the sacrifice permanently.

Why

If Islamic slaughter is not possible in the country where a person is staying, the better course is to send money to someone who can slaughter the udhiyah or ‘aqeeqah on their behalf in another country, especially where there are relatives or poor and needy people. Slaughtering the sacrifice is better than merely giving its price in charity, because the sacrifice itself is the prescribed act of worship.

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5. What should someone do if they did not perform ‘aqeeqah on the seventh day?

  • They may slaughter it later when able. (correct answer)
  • They must give charity instead of slaughtering.
  • They have permanently missed it and cannot do anything.
  • They must wait until the child reaches puberty.

Why

‘Aqeeqah is a confirmed Sunnah and is not obligatory, so there is no sin on one who delays it. The Sunnah is to slaughter it on the seventh day, but if it is delayed, it may be slaughtered later at any time, and it is better to do it sooner when possible. Giving money in charity does not take the place of ‘aqeeqah, because the purpose is to draw closer to Allah by offering the sacrifice.

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A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

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