Q. People are recommended to sacrifice a sheep on the occasion of the Eid of Sacrifice, if they can afford it. Should this be done in one’s own home country, or one’s place of residence?
S.M. Ali, Alkhobar
A. The sacrifice is offered as a Sunnah, by people who are not doing the pilgrimage. They are recommended to give one third of it to the poor, and one-third as gifts to neighbors and relatives, keeping one-third for their own families.
As such, it is better done where one actually lives. However, if one is working in a country like Saudi Arabia, while people in his own hometown are generally poorer, then it is perfectly appropriate to ask someone there to do the sacrifice on one’s behalf. Its purpose may be better served in this way.
Entering the Mosque
Q. Is there a particular way we should observe when entering or leaving a mosque?
T.I. Ahmad, Saudi Arabia
A. It is recommended that when entering a mosque, we put the right foot first and say: “My Lord, forgive me and open for me the gates of Your mercy.” On leaving, we put out our left foot first and say: “My Lord, forgive me and open for me the gates of Your bounty.” But this is a recommended practice, which means that if we do not do it, we do nothing wrong. It is just an omission of what is preferable.
