Is it permissible for him to buy the udhiyah with food stamps given to him by the state?

Question: 144986

The US government helps people with low incomes by giving them stamps with which to buy food and drink at the government’s expense. Is it permissible to use these stamps – or cards – to buy the udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

Firstly:

A general description of the programme mentioned in the
question is as follows:

1.
The use of food stamps or coupons began in America during
the Second World War

2.
This program is now officially known as the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

3.
The program is administered in America by the Department
of Agriculture.

4.
The coupons currently appear in the form of electronic
cards (like debit cards), onto which approximately one hundred dollars are
loaded every month.

5.
This program is only for those who cannot find anything
to eat, or whose income is not sufficient.

6.
The number of beneficiaries of this program is
approximately thirty-six million US citizens.

Secondly:

The Muslim should not buy his udhiyah with these stamps or
coupons, because they are only given to the poor, and it is not prescribed
for the poor to offer the udhiyah.

If a Muslim is independent of means and well off, it is not
permissible for him to participate in this program, because he will be
taking something that is not permissible for him.

Please see also the answer to question no.
6357

And Allah knows best.

Source:

Islam Q&A

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