Sacrificing one’s own animal free of charge on another’s behalf at his request

Question

A man is away from home and owns the nisab. He writes a letter to his relative: “Sacrifice the goat you have on my behalf.” The relative sacrifices it on that man’s behalf without compensation. Is this sacrifice valid or not? The basis (for its validity) is the permission (idhn), which suffices for the fard and wajib elements of the sacrifice; but the difficulty is that since the relatives are giving without compensation, it has become a gift (hiba)

Answer

The one who gave the order (amir) made the one ordered (ma’mur) his agent (wakil) by implication (iqtida’an); the agent’s possession counted as the principal’s (muwakkil’s) possession.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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