Should one give charity locally or sacrifice animal in home country?

Question

I have been living in UK and as per state law, one cannot slaughter animals. Some people send money back to their counties e.g Pakistan. I saw a video of Mufti Menk saying that charity should be given to the country charities in which you reside in.

Some people become really patriotic on this subject as they would rather send money to someone who they trust and can distribute accordingly, then some people also start converting money e.g I give to charity which is doing 50£ for a portion of cow, however one relative told in Pakistan it is xxx amount which converts into 130£ but it is same portion of cow.

Should one give to charity or to siblings in Muslim county who can do the sunnah?

Answer 1

You are wrongly assuming udhiyah to be a type of charity. The point of udhiyah is not giving in charity, rather the ritual of sacrifice is an act of worship in itself.

This might become clearer if you consider that you can eat the meat of sacrifice yourself whereas consuming your own wealth is not charity. Giving away the meat that 'results' from the sacrifice is prescribed, although it will not invalidate the sacrifice if you eat it all yourself or even if you throw it away. Similarly you may have heard that in ancient times the sacrifice was consumed by fire, and not given away in charity.

Arranging for the sacrifice to be made on your behalf is better than giving its worth in charity. While giving in charity will fetch its own reward and is better than doing nothing, it will not equal or be better than a sacrifice.

ما عمل ابن آدم من عمل يوم النحر أحب إلى الله من إهراق الدم

The son of Adam does not do any deed on the day of sacrifice that is dearer to Allah than shedding blood.

^{— مشكاة المصابيح}