Many Muslims are still confused and wondering about the ruling of sacrificing for those who can afford it. Does it become obligatory or is it Sunnah?
Among the scholars of the madhhabs themselves, there are also differences of opinion about the ruling of qurbani. The majority of the Malikiyah, Shafi’iyah, and Hanbali scholars believe that the ruling of qurbani is Sunnah. However, Abu Hanifah argued that it is obligatory for those who can afford it. So, which is the correct ruling?
The Meaning of Sacrifice
Sacrifice comes from the word qorroba-yuqorribu-qurbaanan, which means to draw closer. It means to draw closer to Allah as a form of gratitude and obedience. This is also explained in the Qur’an:
“Indeed We have bestowed upon you many blessings. So establish prayer for the sake of your Lord; and make sacrifices.” (QS. Al-Kautsar: 1-2)
Through the above verses, Allah commands us to perform prayers and sacrifices as a form of gratitude for Allah’s blessings. By performing qurbani, we can share more happiness. This is because the qurbani meat is not enjoyed alone, but by all Muslims.
However, performing qurbani is not easy or cheap. A Muslim needs to spend a certain amount of money to buy sacrificial animals. The implementation also requires a lot of funds and human resources. So, it is not surprising that this act of worship is recommended for those who are financially capable.
Read also: Sunnah of slaughtering qurbani animals: is it permissible to cut nails and hair?
The Law of Sacrifice for Those Who Can Afford It
According to the scholars, the ruling of qurbani is Sunnah muakad, which is an act of worship that is highly recommended if a Muslim is financially capable. However, how can one be considered financially capable?
1. The Ruling of Sacrifice for the Affluent According to the Maliki School of Thought
The scholars of the Maliki school of thought say that a person can be considered well-off if he has 30 dinars of wealth. When converted to rupiah, one dinar is equivalent to two million rupiah. So if a person has a total wealth of 60 million rupiah, he is strongly encouraged to perform qurbani.
2. The Ruling of Sacrifice for the Affluent According to the Shafi’i Mazhab
Unlike the Maliki Mazhab, the Shafii Mazhab measures that a person can be said to be capable if he has enough money to buy sacrificial animals. This means that he is able to fulfill his obligation to provide for his family and dependents during the days of slaughtering, which are from the 10th to the 12th of Dhu’l-Hijjah.
If a person has the money for the sacrificial animal, but his family has not been provided for, then it is not recommended for him to offer a sacrifice. It is better to prioritize providing for his family first.
3. According to the Hambali school of thought, it is permissible to go into debt for sacrifice
According to the Hambali school of thought, it is recommended for a Muslim to perform qurbani if he can afford to buy livestock using his own money or taking a loan. The Hambali school of thought allows a Muslim to go into debt first to buy sacrificial animals.
4. According to the Hanafi school, it is obligatory for those who can afford it.
Abu Hanifah is of the opinion that it is obligatory for those who can afford it. According to the Hanafi school, a person who is considered capable is someone who has assets worth the nisab of zakat mal, which is 200 dirhams. It exceeds the basic needs and those who must be borne.
Abu Hanifah’s opinion is based on the hadith: “Whoever has the ability but does not sacrifice, then do not come near our place of prayer.” (HR Ahmad and Ibn Majah).
However, Shaykh Wahbah al-Zuhaili in al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuhu, in juz 3 page 597 says : “The hadith scholars weakened the Hanafiyya traditions, or they were directed towards confirming the obligation of sacrifice, such as the Friday bath in the Prophet’s hadith: Friday bath is obligatory upon every adult. This conclusion is supported by the report that Abu Bakr and ‘Umar did not offer a sacrifice for fear that people would believe it to be obligatory, whereas the ruling is that there is no obligation.”
Read also: The Smiles of Qurbani Beneficiaries in an Isolated Village in Grobogan
History of Qurbani among the Prophet and Companions
Whether he was in need or not, the Prophet always sacrificed every year. Despite having a simple lifestyle, Prophet Muhammad did not miss sacrificing. For him, qurbani is an act of worship that is done every year, not a once-in-a-lifetime act.
Hadith Ibn Abbas, he heard the Prophet say, “Three things are obligatory for you, sunnah for you, namely the Witr prayer, sacrifice, and Dhuha prayer” (HR Ahmad and al-Hakim).
In the narration of Imam al-Tirmidzi, it is stated that the Prophet said, “I was ordered to sacrifice, and it is sunnah for you” (HR al-Tirmidzi).
The Prophet obliged himself to sacrifice, but the law of sacrifice for those who can afford it is not obligatory, but Sunnah. Abu Bakr and Umar bin Khattab, who were wealthy, did not always sacrifice every year. This shows that qurbani for Muslims is not obligatory, but sunnah muakad. An act of worship that is highly recommended.
The Law of Sacrifice is Sunnah Muakad
Qurbani has a moving history. When Prophet Ibrahim, who had been waiting for decades to have a child, was tested by Allah to sacrifice his only son, Prophet Ismail. If this happens to us, we may not be able to deal with it. Which parent’s feelings are not sad when they have to part with the child they have been waiting for for years.
God tested the obedience of Prophet Ibrahim, and Prophet Ibrahim was supported by his son to carry out God’s orders. The love of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail for God exceeded the love of themselves. The sacrifice was redeemed by God with a sheep, and Prophet Ismail lived until the end of his life.
From the sacrifice, we can learn about Prophet Ibrahim’s patience and love for Allah. Qurbani is a noble act of worship because it commemorates what happened to Prophet Ibrahim, and it is also a form of gratitude and love for Allah.
The ruling of sacrifice for those who are able is sunnah muakad, or worship that is highly recommended. If you perform it, you will get a lot of rewards from Allah SWT. In the hadith narrated by Ahmad and Ibn Majah, it is said, “For every piece of fur we get one good deed”.
Tebar Hewan Kurban Dompet Dhuafa
Qurbani is not an individual act of worship. Although the law of qurbani for those who are able is sunnah muakad, qurbani has a very high social nature. Allah orders the qurbani meat to be distributed equally to all Muslims without exception. Both rich and poor can enjoy the qurbani meat. Strengthen friendship and celebrate Eid al-Adha with joy.
“And We have made the camels for you part of the signs of Allah, and you will find much good in them, so call upon the name of Allah when you slaughter them while they are standing (and bound). Then when it falls down (dead), then eat some of it and feed those who are content with what they have (who do not beg) and those who ask. Thus have We subjected the camels to you, that you may be grateful.” (Al-Hajj: 36).
However, in the distribution of qurbani meat, there are those who do not get the meat, especially the poor and needy. Often the distribution of qurbani meat only revolves around the same area, not evenly distributed to remote areas.
Therefore, Dompet Dhuafa invites you to spread qurbani animals to all corners of the country. Thus, our fellow believers, especially the underprivileged, can enjoy the joy of qurbani meat on Eid al-Adha. Click the button below to perform qurbani and share it with many people!
