Understanding the Distribution of Sacrificial Meat: A Guide to Generosity in Islam

How to Distribute Sacrificial Meat: Guidelines and Recommendations

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐭, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞?

Giving 1/3rd of sacrificial meat to the poor, 1/3rd to the poor, 1/3rd to the relatives is indeed a great deed but nowhere sanctioned in the Shari’ah.  The source of this was from a man who used to distribute his crops everytime in this ratio and Allah loved his action. So yes, some sahabah adopted this way but its not an obligation.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to give a generic command for all like :

• Eat some.
• Preserve some (for later)
• Give some in charity.

Although he ﷺ himself was so generous that he  sacrificed 100 camels but ate only a few pieces out of one camel and gave out the entirety of it to his companions and the needy. Allahu Akbar. Look at his generosity. صلى الله عليه وسلم

Based on this, Imam Ash Shafi’ee (rh) said:

“It is mustahabb (recommended to give out most of it in charity)… “

Since there seems to be no limits defined on how much to eat and how much to save and how much to give in charity, Imam Malik (rh) said:

“There is no limit to what may be eaten or given in charity or used to feed the poor or the rich, whether one wants to give it uncooked or cooked.”

Allah ﷻ says in Surah Al-Hajj, Verse 28:

لِّيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ { فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْبَائِسَ الْفَقِيرَ}

{….. Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor who have a very hard time}

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 :

Of a surety giving most of his best  (sunnah) and not giving anything out of it is against the command of Allah.

May Allah make us generous and accept us.