Sacrifice - rules, guidelines and modern issues

 The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) sacrificed an animal on behalf of the Ahle Bait and the whole Ummah

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would perform sacrifice of an animal on behalf of the Ahle Bait (the family of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)) and would make a sacrifice on behalf of those people of the Ummah who don’t have the capacity to do so.  As mentioned in this Hadith of Sunan Ibn Majah:

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her) that on the occasion of the Hujjatul Wada’a, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) slaughtered a cow on behalf of the Ahle Bait (the family of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)).

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 3255)

There is a Hadith in Sunan Abu Dawood:

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Jabir (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says:  I was present with Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in the Eidgah on Eid Ul Azha.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) stepped down from the pulpit after delivering the sermon.  A sheep was brought before him, so he slaughtered it with his blessed hands reciting: "Bismillahi WAllah Most Highu Akbar" and said: It is on behalf of me and on behalf of those of my followers who did not sacrifice an animal.

(Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 2812)