Question:
Qurbani is fardh on my wife. If I buy the animal for her (as a gift), will her obligation be discharged?
Does she necessarily have to use her own money? She feels that she has to withdraw her own money?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
There are three types of worship in the Shari῾ah:
1) Monetary worship like Zakāt, Sadaqāt, Kaffārāt etc.
2) Bodily worship like salāh, fasting etc.
3) A combination of monetary and bodily like Hajj [1]
Qurbānī (sacrificial animal) is a monetary form of worship. The ruling regarding monetary forms of worship is that delegation can take place; one person can execute the worship on behalf of another. Hence, it will be permissible to purchase a Qurbānī (sacrificial animal) on behalf of one’s spouse. She will also be absolved from the obligation of performing Qurbānī. She will not have to use her own money if someone else carries out a Qurbānī on her behalf.
There is a difference of opinion amongst Imam Abu Hanīfah rahimahullah and Imam Abū Yūsuf rahimahullah whether or not it is necessary to obtain permission from the person whom you intend to execute the Qurbāni for. Hence, when performing Qurbāni on behalf of somebody else, the precautionary measure would be to perform Qurbāni with the acknowledgment of that person.[2]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faraz Adam,
www.darulfiqh.com