asSalaamu alaikum Eid al Adha has already passed and I now realize that qurbani was wajib upon me. Would it be better for me to offer the qurbani right now through an online organization such as Islamic Relief USA or should I give the price of the qurbani in sadaqa instead? Or is there something else that I should do? jazakAllah khair

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

First of all, you should know, dear brother, that according to the view of the majority of the scholars the ‘Eed sacrifice is a desirable Sunnah and not an obligation as we clarified in Fatwa 81799.

Nevertheless, some scholars stated that the ‘Eed sacrifice is an obligation upon a well-to-do person. But we in Islamweb are of the opinion that the ‘Eed sacrifice is desirable.

The time of slaughtering the ‘Eed sacrifice is said to be the day of ‘Eed and two days after it, and it is also said to be the day of ‘Eed and three days after it, and its time ends by sunset on the last day of sacrifice.

Nonetheless, according to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence who are of the view that the ‘Eed sacrifice is an obligation, if its time has expired, a person should give in charity the sacrificial sheep that he bought for sacrifice, and if he had not bought it, he should give in charity the price of a sheep that would be sufficient as a sacrifice.

However, according to the view of the majority of the scholars he is not required to do anything but he had missed the reward.

Therefore, if you are of the view that the ‘Eed sacrifice is an obligation or rather you imitate the scholars who hold the view that the ‘Eed sacrifice is an obligation, and you are financially capable, then you may give its price in charity as we already discussed.

Allaah Knows best.