Allah says in القرآن regarding the sacrifice: 'So eat from them and feed the needy and the beggar' (22:28). Based on this verse and النبي's السنة, scholars have outlined guidelines for distributing the sacrifice meat. The مستحب division is into three portions: one-third for the الحاج and their family to eat, one-third to give as gifts to friends, relatives, and neighbors, and one-third to donate to the poor and needy. This tripartite division is the position of the Hanbali school and is مستحب by ابن باز.
الشيخ ابن عثيمين explained that the three-way division is مستحب (مستحب) but not strictly واجب. What is واجب is two things: (1) the الحاج must eat from the sacrifice, based on القرآنic command 'So eat from them'; and (2) some portion must reach the poor, based on 'and feed the needy.' The exact proportions are flexible. If the الحاج gives most of it to the poor, that is excellent. If they eat most of it, that is جائز as long as the poor receive some share.
The اللجنة الدائمة noted that in modern الحج, many الحجاج purchase their sacrifice through authorized organizations (such as the Islamic Development Bank's sacrifice project), which handle the slaughter and distribution, ensuring the meat reaches the poor in the Muslim world. This is جائز and fulfills the obligation. The الحاج who uses such a service has fulfilled their sacrifice obligation, even though they may not personally eat from the specific animal. Wasting sacrifice meat by discarding it is prohibited — every effort should be made to utilize and distribute it properly.