Fatawa
by Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani
Question: If I appoint a proxy to slaughter
my animal in another country
which is in a time zone ahead of mine
(e.g. I live in Canada and my proxy in
Pakistan), is it necessary for the time of
udhiya to have started where I live locally?
Or would it be permissible to suffice
on the time zone where the animal is
being slaughtered?
Answer: Although there is a difference
of opinion regarding this issue, the
most cautious approach would be to
ensure that the animal is slaughtered
at a time which is valid for slaughter in
both countries; the country where one
resides and the country where the animal
is slaughtered.
Question: I currently own more than
nisab. However, I am saving up for a
down payment on a house I wish to
buy. Is there any way for me to delay
my udhiya until a later time when I am
more financially stable? Or is it necessary
for the sacrifice to take place
during the days of ‘Eid?
Answer: The stipulated time for udhiya
is from ‘Eid prayer (10th of Dhul Ḥijja)
until sunset on 12th of Dhul Ḥijja. After
this time, udhiya would not be valid.
However, in such a situation we would
advise for you to have an animal sacrificed
in another country where the cost
of sacrificing an animal is significantly
less.
Question: What is the ruling for cutting
one’s hair or nails from the beginning
of Dhu al-Hijja until ‘Eid al-Adha?
Answer: Whoever is intending to sacrifice
an animal for ‘Eid, it is mustahab
(desirable) for them to avoid removing
hair from their body or clipping their
nails from the time the moon is sighted
for Dhu al-Hijja until the animal
is sacrificed. The proof of this is the
following hadith: Umm Salama j reports
that the Messenger of Allah s
said, “When you see the moon of Dhu
al-Hijja and you intend to sacrifice (for
udhiya), then you should refrain from
(cutting) hair or (clipping) nails” (Muslim).
However, if someone has not removed
their excess hair (i.e. hair below the
navel or underarms) for 40 days or
more, they should not delay in removing
that hair even if the month of Dhu
al-Hijja has commenced, as keeping
excess hair for longer than 40 days is
prohibited.
Question: Do I need to perform udhiya
on behalf of my young children if the
money in their savings account surpasses
the threshold of nisab?
Answer: It is not necessary to perform
udhiya on behalf of children even if
they possess more than nisab.
Question: Upon whom is udhiya necessary?
Instead of sacrificing an animal,
would it be permissible for me to donate
an equivalent amount to charity
as this seems to be more beneficial to
those in need?
Answer: Udhiya is an act of worship
which is incumbent upon all Muslim
adults who possess excess wealth over
the threshold of nisab at the break of
dawn on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijja. This
obligation will only be fulfilled by the
sacrifice of an animal. Giving charity
equivalent to the value of an animal
would not fulfill this specific obligation.
However, one may thereafter gift
the meat to a needy person or sell the
meat and give the money earned from
the sale to whomsoever they wish.
Question: On ‘Eid or other occasions
my children receive cash gifts from
friends and relatives. Is it necessary for
me to keep separate account of such
money to ensure it is only used on
them? Or would it be permissible for
me to use that money however I deem
fit?
Answer: In principle, gifts received for
children belong to the children. The
parent/guardian may choose to give
the gift to the child, safeguard it, or use
it in the child’s best interest. It would
not be permissible for the parent to use
the child’s money for his/her personal
benefit.
Question: I verbally gifted my wife
a property I own overseas. However,
before I had the chance to transfer
the property to her, she passed away.
Would this house be distributed in her
inheritance?
Answer: In principle, for a gift to transfer
to another person’s ownership it is
necessary for the person being gifted to
take the gift in their possession. A mere
verbal statement would not be enough
for the property in reference to change
ownership. As such, such a property
would not be distributed in your wife’s
inheritance and would remain your
property.
Question: Is it permissible to sell a stock
before settlement has occurred?
Answer: It would not be permissible
to sell a stock before settlement. The
reasoning for this is that it is neces-
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