I performed Tamattu‘ Hajj last year with some friends of mine. We gave some money to one of us and deputized him to slaughter on our behalf on the day of Nahr, but he slaughtered before the day of Nahr without informing us. What is the ruling on what he did? Is our Hajj valid? Are we liable to slaughter another sacrifice? If the answer is yes, may I deputize someone to slaughter on my behalf in Makkah these days?

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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

It is agreed that it is better that the Tamattu' pilgrim slaughters the blood of Tammattu‘ on the day of Nahr after stoning Jamrat-ul-‘Aqabah as the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did. Anas ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased wish him, narrated that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came to Mina; he went to the Jamrah and threw pebbles at it, after which he went to his lodging in Mina and sacrificed the animal. He then called for a barber and let him shave his right side then his left side. He then gave (the shaven hair) to the people.[Muslim]

Scholars differed concerning whether sacrificing before the day of Nahr avails or not. There is not – as far as we know – a clear proof from the Quran and the Sunnah that gives preponderance to one of the two opinions over the other. Rather, there are only apparent meanings of potential texts, implications and analogies.

Therefore, as long as the matter has happened as you described, there is no blame upon you, Allaah Almighty willing, and you are not liable to sacrifice once more. May Allaah accept from us and you.

Allah Knows best.