Is it Valid to Do Udhiyah Overseas?

A sister asked: I heard that it is invalid to perform the Udhiyah overseas, and that if it is done there, it only counts as a general act of charity. Is this true? Answer: There is no doubt that the Sunnah is to slaughter the Udhiyah in one’s own country, and this contains many benefits: [https://t.me/khawaaaaatir/292] However, to say that performing it overseas renders the Udhiyah invalid is not correct. If scholars have stated that it is permissible to appoint someone to perform the sacrifice on your behalf when you are unable to do it yourself, then why could that appointed person not be overseas? [https://t.me/khawaaaaatir/291] The Kuwaiti Encyclopedia of Islamic Jurisprudence states: “Scholars agreed that it is allowed to have someone else slaughter your udhiyah on your behalf, as long as that person is Muslim. Still, it is better for a person to do the slaughter themselves unless there is a valid reason not to. Most scholars also said the sacrifice is valid, though disliked, if it is slaughtered by a Jew or Christian, since their slaughter is considered permissible.” This is especially relevant when you consider that, in many places in the West, individuals are not permitted to slaughter animals themselves, and that many slaughterhouses engage in questionable practices, such as stunning animals before slaughter. Yes, by performing it overseas, you may miss out on certain Sunnahs, such as witnessing the slaughter and eating from the meat. However, you may also attain other important Sunnahs, such as ensuring that the animal is slaughtered correctly according to the Sharīʿah and providing meat to the poor and needy. In any case, these matters are from the Sunnahs of the Udhiyah, and missing out on some of them does not render the Udhiyah invalid. [https://t.me/khawaaaaatir/293] This issue is very similar to the ruling on sending Zakat Al-Fitr overseas. Refer to Sheikh Abu Ammar Yasir Ad-Duba'ee’s answer to Question 33: [https://t.me/madrasatunaa/222]