Is it permissible to donate the price of the Udhiyah to the needy, instead of slaughtering it, due to the husband's absence from his wife on Eid?

The sacrifice (udhiyah) is a confirmed Sunnah for the one who can afford it. Abu Hanifa made it obligatory, citing the hadith: "Whoever finds abundance and does not sacrifice, let him not approach our prayer place." Al-Albani graded this hadith as hasan (good). We advise those who can afford it to be keen on performing it. Donating its value is not sufficient, because the sacrifice is an act of worship involving the shedding of blood, along with the permissibility of eating from it and giving some in charity. This is indicated by the hadith: "No deed of the son of Adam on the Day of Sacrifice is more beloved to Allah than the shedding of blood..." and the hadith that initially prohibited eating the meat of sacrifices after three days, then granted permission to eat, give in charity, and store it. It is permissible to donate all the meat of the sacrifice after it has been slaughtered.