should hasten to do so.” Its obligation is then conditional upon having the means to offer it beyond one’s basic needs, as with the obligatory charity at the end of Ramadan. A single sheep may be sacrificed on behalf of a household—the head of the household, his wives and children, and those living with them—as the Companions used to do.

As for reports that some Companions did not offer a sacrifice but bought meat instead, this may have been a matter of disagreement, just as they disagreed over whether ʿumrah was obligatory. It may also be that someone who did not offer a sacrifice lacked sufficient means that year and intended thereby to rebuke those who ostentatiously offered sacrifices for other than Allah. Alternatively, he may have refrained from offering it that year in order to rebuke them, thus omitting an obligation for an overriding benefit. Similarly, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

“I considered ordering that the prayer be established, then going with men carrying bundles of firewood to people who do not attend the prayer and burning their houses down upon them, were it not for the women and children in those houses.”

He would thus have forgone the obligatory Friday and congregational prayers in order to punish those who stayed away. This falls under jihad, for which the time available may be short, so it takes precedence over Friday and congregational prayers. If an official in authority, such as a public inspector or another official, were to miss Friday prayer on some occasions to identify and punish those who do not attend it, that would be permissible. This would constitute a valid excuse for missing Friday prayer, since punishing those people is a duty specifically incumbent upon him that can only be carried out in this way. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) made it clear that, were it not for the women and children