Qurbani (Sacrifice) for Non-Pilgrims

What is Udhiyah (Qurbani)?

Udhiyah refers to the sacrificial animals that non-pilgrim Muslims may offer, seeking Allah's pleasure during the days of 'Eid ul-Adha. Udhiyah is, in fact, offered in memory of the great sacrifice that Prophet Ibrahim and his son Prophet Isma'il, peace and blessings be upon both of them, were ordered to offer for Allah's sake — when Ibrahim was ordered in a vision to offer his son in sacrifice for Allah's sake, and Isma'il promptly consented. But Allah spared them the sacrifice and ordered them to sacrifice an animal instead. This is referred to in the Qur'an:

"And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice."

What is the Difference Between Hady and Udhiyah (Qurbani)?

Hady refers to the sacrifice offered by Hajj pilgrims in Makkah while Udhiyah refers to the sacrifice offered by non-pilgrims.

Is Udhiyah (Qurbani) Obligatory?

For those not performing Hajj wishing to offer Udhiyah there are two scholarly opinions:

(A) that it is wajib (obligatory). This is the opinion of the Imams Abu Hanifah (d. 150H), al-Awza'i (d. 157H) and al-Layth (d. 175H), and it is one of the two opinions narrated from Imam Ahmad (d. 241H). It was also the opinion of Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (d. 728H), and is one of the two opinions in the madhhab of Imam Malik (d. 179H), or is what seems to be the madhhab of Imam Malik. Those who favour this opinion take the following as evidence:

1. The verse: "Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only)." [Al-Qur'an 108:2]. This is a command, and a command implies that something is obligatory.
2. The Hadith of Jundub, may Allah be pleased with him, who reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever slaughtered his sacrifice before he prays, let him slaughter another one in its place, and whoever did not slaughter a sacrifice, let him do so in the name of Allah." [Reported by Muslim (3621)]
3. The Hadith: "Whoever can afford to offer a sacrifice but does not do so, let him not approach our place of prayer." [Reported by Ahmad and Ibn Majah; classed as sahih by al-Hakim from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him. It says in Al-Fath al-Bari that its men are all sound]

(B) that it is a stressed Sunnah. This is the opinion of the majority, and it is the madhhab of Imam ash-Shafi'i (d. 204H) and the better-known opinion of Imams Malik and Ahmad but most of those who favour this opinion state that it is disliked for the one who is able to offer a sacrifice to neglect to do so. They base their opinion on the following:

1. The Hadith of Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, in Sunan Abi Dawud, where he said: "I prayed 'Eid ul-Adha with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and when he finished (the prayer), he was brought two rams, and he sacrificed them. He said, 'In the Name of Allah, Allah is Most Great. This is on behalf of myself and any member of my Ummah who did not offer a sacrifice.' " [Sunan Abi Dawud bi Sharh Muhammad Shams al-Haq Abadi (7/486)]
2. The Hadith reported by all the famous scholars of Hadith apart from al-Bukhari: "Whoever among you wants to offer a sacrifice, let him not take (cut) anything from his hair or nails."

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymin said, following his discussion of those who say it is obligatory and those who say it is Sunnah, "Each point of view has its evidence, but to be on the safe side, the one who is able to offer a sacrifice should not neglect to do so, because of what is involved in this act of reverence towards Allah, remembering Him, and making sure that one has nothing to be blamed for."