One Sacrifice Suffice for a Family?
Can One Sacrifice Suffice for a Family? Imam Ahmad and the Classical View
Imam Ibn Qudamah stated:
There is no harm if a man sacrifices one sheep on behalf of his household, or a camel or cattle. This was stated by Imam Ahmad, and the same was said by Malik, al-Layth, al-Awzāī, and Ishāq. It has also been reported from Ibn Umar and Abū Hurayrah.
Salih (Son of Imam Ahmad) said: I asked my father (Imam Ahmad),
"Can a single sheep be sacrificed on behalf of an entire household?"
He said: "Yes, there is no harm in that.
The Prophet sacrificed two rams; he brought one forward and said:
In the name of Allah, O Allah, this is on behalf of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and then brought the other forward and said: In the name of Allah, O Allah, this is from You and for You, on behalf of whoever among my Ummah affirms Your Oneness.
"It is also reported from Abū Hurayrah that he used to sacrifice a sheep, & his daughter would come and say:
"Is it on my behalf?" & he would reply: "Yes, on your behalf as well."
One sacrifice is sufficient on behalf of all members of a household, no matter how many of them there are.
Narrated 'Ata bin Yasar: "I asked Abu Abyub [Al-Ansari] how the slaughtering was done during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said: 'A man would sacrifice a sheep for himself and the people in his household. They would eat from it and feed others, until the people (later) would boast about it and it became as you see now."
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said in al-Sharh al-Mumti' (5/275): There is no limit to how many people may share in the reward. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) offered a sacrifice on behalf of his entire ummah, and a man may offer a single sheep on behalf of himself and the members of his household, even if they are one hundred strong. The Standing Committee was asked: There are twenty-two people in this family, and they have one income and one budget. On Eid al-Adha they offer a single sacrifice, and I do not know whether that is sufficient or whether they should offer two sacrifices? They replied: If the family is big but they live in one house, one sacrifice is sufficient for them, but if they offer more than one sacrifice, that is better.
Last updated