3. The hadeeth: "Whoever can afford to offer a sacrifice but does not do so, let him not

approach our place or prayer." (Reported by Ahmad and Ibn Maajah; classed as sahih by alHaakim from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him). It says in Fath alBaari that its men are thiqaat). (B) that it is a confirmed Sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah). This is the opinion of the majority, and it is the madhab of al-Shaafa'i and the better-known opinion of Maalik and Ahmad. But most of those who favour this opinion stated that it is makrooh (disliked) for the one who is able to offer a sacrifice to neglect to do so. They base their opinion on the following: