Udhiyah Ruling for Newly Married Couples Living Apart

Question

What is the ruling on Udhiyah for a newly married woman who is living separately from her husband?

Bottom Line

One sacrifice covers the household.

Quick Answer

Udhiyah is a confirmed Sunnah for men and women. A single sheep suffices for a household when the sacrificer intends their family. A wife is included in her husband’s sacrifice by intention, even if residing elsewhere. If she is living with and provided for by her parents, she can be included in her father’s sacrifice. If she lives independently and can afford it, offering her own udhiyah is recommended but not obligatory.

Key Takeaways

• Udhiyah is Sunnah mu’akkadah for both men and women.
• One animal can cover the sacrificer and their household by intention.
• A wife is included in her husband’s udhiyah if he intends his family, even if living separately.

Detailed Answer

Early Muslims treated udhiyah as a living Sunnah. Muhammad ibn Sīrīn said: “I asked Ibn ʿUmar about sacrifices and whether they are obligatory. He said: ‘The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Muslims after him offered sacrifices, and this is the Sunnah.’” Sunan Ibn Mājah 3124.

A single sheep can cover the sacrificer and their household by intention, as in the report: “A man would sacrifice a sheep on behalf of himself and the members of his household, and they would eat and give to others.” Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī 1505.

On that basis, a newly married woman living in a different place is still included in her husband’s udhiyah if he intends his family. Likewise, if she resides with her parents and remains under their care, she may be included in her father’s udhiyah. If she lives on her own and has the means, offering her own sacrifice is recommended, but the stronger view among many scholars is that it is not individually obligatory. Contemporary scholars such as Ibn Bāz and Ibn ʿUthaymīn clarified that one sheep on behalf of a man and his household is sufficient, and women may perform udhiyah themselves when able.

What This Means for You

Check whose household you practically belong to right now. If your husband intends to take care of his family, you’re covered. If you’re living with and provided for by your parents, you can be included in your father’s sacrifice. If you are financially independent, consider offering your own udhiyah for extra reward.

And Allah knows best.

References

Primary Sources

Hadith

1. Sunan Ibn Mājah 3124: Practice of sacrifice as Sunnah.
2. Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī 1505: One sheep on behalf of a man and his household.

Secondary Sources

3. Ibn Bāz, Majmūʿ Fatāwa: Udhiyah as Sunnah and one sheep sufficing a household.
4. Ibn ʿUthaymīn, Aḥkām al-Udhiyah: Inclusion by intention and women offering udhiyah.